Correlates of Physical Activity Engagement among Pregnant Women with Overweight and Obesity.

Background: Excess weight during pregnancy increases risk for adverse obstetrical outcomes. Physical activity (PA) may buffer these effects, although it is unclear what factors are associated with PA in women who begin pregnancy with overweight/obesity. The present study sought to characterize the demographic and psychological correlates of PA among women with prepregnancy overweight/obesity.

Methods: Pregnant women (N = 249; mean age, 28.48 ± 5.48 years; mean body mass index, 34.13 ± 7.07 kg/m) at 12-20 weeks of gestation (mean, 15.68 ± 2.44 weeks of gestation) completed ratings of perceived stress and depressive symptoms and were interviewed using the pregnancy version of the Eating Disorders Examination. The Paffenbarger Physical Activity Survey was administered via interview to estimate energy expenditure. Continuous outcomes were evaluated via linear regression, while logistic regression was conducted to assess likelihood of meeting PA guidelines.

Results: Mean weekly duration of moderate to vigorous PA was 109.50 ± 248.17 minutes, with 21% of women meeting federal PA guidelines of 150 minutes or more. Higher perceived stress (β = -0.217; p = .02) and eating psychopathology (β = -0.213; p < .01) were associated with lower total energy expenditure. Black women reported lower expenditure specifically from walking compared with White women (β = -0.180; p = .03). Depressive symptoms were not associated with PA. No estimate of PA predicted body mass index.

Conclusions: Pregnant women with overweight/obesity engage in modest amounts of PA early in pregnancy, although few meet PA guidelines. Greater perceived stress and eating psychopathology were associated with lower PA engagement. These factors should be monitored by obstetrics providers to identify women who may particularly benefit from counseling about PA during pregnancy.