Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Oct 2006
Comparative StudyPhysical activity patterns during pregnancy in a diverse population of women.
Participation in physical activity during pregnancy may reduce the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia and help prevent excess maternal weight gain. However, studies describing patterns and correlates of activity during pregnancy are sparse. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to describe total physical activity (household/caregiving, occupational, leisure, sports/exercise, and transportation) and correlates of total physical activity in a racially and economically diverse sample of 233 prenatal care patients. ⋯ Results from this study highlight the importance of including household/caregiving and occupational activities in addition to sports/exercise activities in the assessment of total energy expenditure during pregnancy.