Physical activity and sedentary time across pregnancy and associations with neonatal weight, adiposity and cord blood parameters: a secondary analysis of the DALI study

Background/ObjectivesObesity during pregnancy is associated with neonatal adiposity, which is a risk factor for childhood obesity. Maternal physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviours during pregnancy might modify this risk. We therefore studied associations between maternal PA and sedentary time (ST) during pregnancy and neonatal anthropometry and cord blood parameters and investigated whether associations differed by offspring sex.Subjects/MethodsParticipants of the Vitamin D And Lifestyle Intervention for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention (DALI) study with a BMI & GE; 29 kg/m(2) were analysed as a cohort. Maternal moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and ST were measured repeatedly with accelerometers across pregnancy. Associations between mean levels and changes in MVPA and ST and birthweight, neonatal adiposity (fat mass (FM)%) and cord blood parameters, including C-peptide, leptin and lipids, were analysed in 213 mother-child pairs with Bayesian multilevel models. Interactions with offspring sex were considered.ResultsAlmost all women decreased MVPA levels and increased ST throughout gestation. Both higher maternal mean MVPA and increasing MVPA were associated with lower offspring FM% in males (-0.520%; 95% CI: -1.011%, -0.031% and -4.649%; -7.876%, -1.432% respectively). In female offspring, mean ST was associated with lower cord blood C-peptide (-0.145 & mu;g/l; -0.279 & mu;g/l, -0.005 & mu;g/l). No associations were found with birthweight or other cord blood parameters.ConclusionsMaternal MVPA is associated with neonatal fat mass, but not birthweight, in male offspring. Our findings underline the importance of physical activity throughout pregnancy.

Automated summary

Maternal physical activity and sedentary time during pregnancy are associated with neonatal anthropometry and cord blood parameters, with potential differences based on offspring sex. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with lower neonatal fat mass in male offspring, while mean sedentary time is associated with lower cord blood C-peptide in female offspring.