Aerobic exercise in pregnant Latina women: effect on metabolic and body composition outcomes. A randomized clinical trial (886.6)

PURPOSE: A prospective randomized controlled trial was designed to assess the benefits of aerobic exercise during pregnancy, using a fitness regimen based on the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans for exercise during pregnancy. METHODS: The study included Sixty‐seven nulliparous in gestational week 16‐20. The experimental group completed a 3‐month supervised exercise program, commencing at 16 to 20 weeks of gestation. Each session included walking(10‐min), aerobic exercise(30‐min) and stretching(10‐min). The control group continued usual activities and performed no specific exercise. The primary outcomes were changes on blood lipids, insulin sensitivity(HOMA‐IR) and body composition(body fat/skinfold thicknesses). RESULTS: At the end of the 3‐month program, there was no difference in the change in blood lipids: total cholesterol ‐6 mg/dL, LDL ‐8 mg/dL, glucose 0.3 mg/dL, insulin ‐2 mU/L and HOMA‐IR ‐0.9. Triglycerides and VLDL were significantly lower in the experimental group by ‐28 mg/mL and ‐6 mg/dL, respectively, P<0.05. The experimental group showed lower values of body fat and skinfold thicknesses than did the control group, but these differentials were non‐significant. CONCLUSION: The potential public health benefits of exercise are too great and this study supports existing guidelines indicating that Latina women may begin or maintain an exercise program during pregnancy.