Activity Behaviors Before and During Pregnancy Are Associated With Women’s Device-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Later Parenthood: A Longitudinal Cohort Analysis
Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: PURPOSE: To explore how activity behaviors before/during pregnancy relate to those in later parenthood, we assessed associations between sitting and moderate-/strenuous exercise before/during pregnancy, and sedentary time (SED) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) 4-7 years postpartum ("later parenthood"). METHODS: Longitudinal data were from the Southampton Women's Survey, United Kingdom. Women reported time spent sitting (in hours per day), in moderate-strenuous exercise (hours per week), and in strenuous exercise (hours per week) at 3 time points before/during pregnancy (ie, preconception, at ∼12-wk and ∼34-wk gestation). From this, we derived 3 behavior trajectories for each woman. In later parenthood, women wore an accelerometer for ≤7 days (mean: 5.4 [SD: 1.8] d), which we used to derive 2 outcomes: minutes per day SED and in MVPA. Multilevel linear regression was used to explore associations between trajectories before/during pregnancy and device-measured SED/MVPA in later parenthood. RESULTS: A total of 780 women provided valid data before/during pregnancy and in later parenthood. Consistent high sitters (vs low) were more sedentary 4-7 years postpartum (β = 39.5 min/d [95% confidence interval, 23.26 to 55.82]), as were women in groups who sat more in later pregnancy. Consistently high moderate/-strenuous exercisers (vs low) were 22% (95% confidence interval, 2%-47%) more active in later parenthood; those engaging in strenuous activity preconception tended to have higher MVPA as parents. CONCLUSIONS: Trajectories of sitting and exercise before/during pregnancy are associated with SED and MVPA, respectively, in later parenthood. Interventions to reduce sitting in pregnancy and to encourage higher intensity activity preconception may benefit maternal and child health.
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funders: Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom Clinical Research Collaboration, Cancer Research UK, National Institute for Health and Care Research, British Heart Foundation, National Osteoporosis Society, European Commission, International Osteoporosis Foundation, Centre for Diet and Activity Research, Versus Arthritis, National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council
Awards: G1099494159, G119964413, G121534964, G1277089031, G1453054114, Programme 1: Musculoskeletal health in later life, G1527320256, G1853932873, G1860049332, G204507963, Vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy: A systematic review, G2370964905, G2473961061, G2570587127, Muscle resilience across the life course: from cells to society, UKCRC Centre of Excellence in Diet and Physical Activity Public Health Research, G3207356259, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, Early-life stressors and LifeCycle health, G393177772, G3946112341, G407699898, G434337789, G4499519760, G4501983645, G452604731, G4658714491, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, G4797731496, G4815644022, Programme 3: Early development and risk of adult musculoskeletal disease, How to promote positive physical activity behaviour in parents and their preschool-aged children: using cohort data to inform interventions., G5023501074, Sarcopenia, Frailty and Clinical Practice in Older People, Centre of excellence in diet and physical activity public health., G5232320059, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, G5605571342, How to promote positive physical activity behaviour in parents and their preschool-aged children: using cohort data to inform interventions., G5702163051, G6219046052, Centre of excellence in diet and physical activity public health., Establishment of a National Network on Musculoskeletal Ageing, Lifecourse Determinants of Bone and Joint Disease, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, G6868616705, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre - Core Support, G7689853932, G7700157724, G8048340129, G812387493, Maternal vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine as determinants of gestational diabetes, fetal growth and intergenerational programming of diabesity, Long-term effects of early nutrition on later health, Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), G999458020
OpenAlex ID: W4385791989