A supervised exercise intervention in pregnant individuals with BMI ≥28 kg/m2 did not significantly improve peak oxygen uptake in gestational weeks 34-37 (estimated effect 1.7 mL/min/kg; p=0.112).
RCT (n=91)
Parallel-group
Does supervised exercise training improve peak oxygen uptake, cardiac function, or flow-mediated dilatation in pregnant individuals with a prepregnancy BMI ≥28 kg/m2?
A supervised exercise intervention during pregnancy in individuals with a BMI ≥28 kg/m2 did not significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiac function, or flow-mediated dilatation, though adherence to the intervention was low.
Effect estimate: Estimated effect 1.7 mL/min/kg (95% CI -0.4 to 3.7)
p-value: p=0.112
Objectives We aimed to determine the effectiveness of exercise training during pregnancy on peak oxygen uptake (V̇O 2 peak), cardiac function and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery throughout pregnancy and post partum in individuals with a prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) ≥28 kg/m 2 . Trial design Parallel-group randomised controlled trial (RCT). Methods The exercise group in the Exercise Training in Pregnancy (ETIP) RCT was offered 3 weekly supervised exercise sessions comprising 35 min of moderate-intensity treadmill walking followed by 25 min of strength exercises. The intervention started in gestational weeks 12–18 and continued throughout pregnancy. We measured V̇O 2 peak and FMD at baseline, in gestational weeks 34–37 and 3 months post partum and offered echocardiography in gestational weeks 14, 20, and 32, and 6–8 weeks postpartum. Results Of the 91 participants included in ETIP, 87 participants (age: 31.3±4.2 years, BMI: 34.6±4.3 kg/m 2 ) provided data on V̇O 2 peak, cardiac function and/or FMD. There was no statistically significant effect of exercise training on V̇O 2 peak in gestational weeks 34–37, with an estimated effect of 1.7 mL/min/kg (95% CI −0.4 to 3.7, p=0.112) or post partum (1.6 mL/min/kg, 95% CI −0.2 to 3.4, p=0.079), compared with the control group. There were no statistically significant between-group differences in either FMD or any of the echocardiographic outcomes. Only 50% of the participants in the exercise group fulfilled our prespecified adherence criteria. Conclusion Offering pregnant individuals with BMI ≥28 kg/m 2 , a supervised exercise intervention did not improve cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiac function or FMD. Trial registration number NCT01243554 .
Moholdt et al. (Fri,) conducted a rct in Pregnancy with high body mass index (BMI ≥28 kg/m2) (n=91). Supervised exercise training vs. Control group was evaluated on Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2 peak) in gestational weeks 34-37 (Estimated effect 1.7 mL/min/kg, 95% CI -0.4 to 3.7, p=0.112). A supervised exercise intervention in pregnant individuals with BMI ≥28 kg/m2 did not significantly improve peak oxygen uptake in gestational weeks 34-37 (estimated effect 1.7 mL/min/kg; p=0.112).