Is intensive counseling in maternity care feasible and effective in promoting physical activity among women at risk for gestational diabetes? Secondary analysis of a cluster randomized NELLI study in Finland.

Background: Women who are physically active during early pregnancy have notably lower odds of developing gestational diabetes than do inactive women. The purpose of the intervention was to examine whether intensified physical activity (PA) counseling in Finnish maternity care is feasible and effective in promoting leisure-time PA (LTPA) among pregnant women at risk of gestational diabetes.

Methods: Fourteen municipalities were randomized to intervention (INT) and usual care group (UC).

Effect of aerobic training on hot flushes and quality of life--a randomized controlled trial.

Background And Objective: To estimate whether aerobic training has an effect on frequency of hot flushes or quality of life.

Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Participants And Setting: Symptomatic, sedentary women (n = 176), 43-63 years, no current use of hormone therapy.

Primary prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus and large-for-gestational-age newborns by lifestyle counseling: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Background: Our objective was to examine whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or newborns' high birthweight can be prevented by lifestyle counseling in pregnant women at high risk of GDM.

Method And Findings: We conducted a cluster-randomized trial, the NELLI study, in 14 municipalities in Finland, where 2,271 women were screened by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 8-12 wk gestation. Euglycemic (n = 399) women with at least one GDM risk factor (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m(2), glucose intolerance or newborn's macrosomia (≥ 4,500 g) in any earlier pregnancy, family history of diabetes, age ≥ 40 y) were included.

Prevention of gestational diabetes: design of a cluster-randomized controlled trial and one-year follow-up.

Background: Annual prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is 12.5% among Finnish pregnant women. The prevalence is expected to rise with the increasing overweight among women before pregnancy.

Validity and repeatability of a short pregnancy leisure time physical activity questionnaire.

Purpose: To examine the validity and repeatability of a short leisure time physical activity (LTPA) questionnaire during pregnancy.

Methods: Seventy-nine women with uncomplicated pregnancies and weeks' gestation View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Physical activity counseling in maternity and child health care - a controlled trial.

Background: The purpose of the study is to examine the effects and feasibility of individual physical activity (PA) counseling in maternity and child health clinics in Finland.

Methods: Three clinics including both maternity and child health care signed up for the experimental (EXP) and three for the control group (CON). The participants were 132 pregnant and 92 postpartum primiparas.

Feasibility of a controlled trial aiming to prevent excessive pregnancy-related weight gain in primary health care.

Background: Excessive gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention may predispose women to long-term overweight and other health problems. Intervention studies aiming at preventing excessive pregnancy-related weight gain are needed. The feasibility of implementing such a study protocol in primary health care setting was evaluated in this pilot study.

Effect of a vigorous aerobic regimen on physical performance in breast cancer patients - a randomized controlled pilot trial.

This randomized, controlled pilot trial was carried out to assess the feasibility and efficacy of an aerobic exercise in enhancing physical performance of breast cancer patients after adjuvant treatments. The potential of the training regimen to prevent accompanying bone loss was also assessed. Thirty patients, 41-65 years of age, were randomly assigned into training or control groups shortly after adjuvant chemo- or radiotherapy.