Physical Activity during Pregnancy and Newborn Body Composition: A Systematic Review

Brenna R. Menke, Cathryn Duchette, Rachel A. Tinius, Alexandria Q. Wilson, Elizabeth A. Altizer and Jill M. Maples
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Brenna R. Menke: School of Occupational Therapy, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46227, USA
Cathryn Duchette: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, AL 36303, USA
Rachel A. Tinius: School of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA
Alexandria Q. Wilson: Preston Medical Library, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA
Elizabeth A. Altizer: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA
Jill M. Maples: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-22

Abstract: The current literature demonstrates that not only is exercise during pregnancy safe, but it has substantial maternal and infant benefits and appears to influence infant growth/size throughout pregnancy and at birth. However, many existing studies have investigated only the effects of prenatal exercise on birth weight. The purpose of this review was to determine the impact or association of maternal physical activity during pregnancy on neonatal body composition assessed between birth and two weeks of age. Electronic database searches were conducted on 29 July 2019 for randomized control trials and cohort studies, with an updated search completed on 8 January 2021. A total of 32 articles that met eligibility criteria were selected for review. Overall, prenatal exercise was not associated with infant body composition at birth. Yet, five of the studies identified suggest that infant body composition could be influenced by higher volumes of mid-to-late term prenatal physical activity. This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (Registration No. CRD42020160138).

Keywords: exercise; infant anthropometrics; neonatal adiposity; maternal physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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