Physical Activity during Pregnancy: Comparisons between Objective Measures and Self-Reports in Relation to Blood Glucose Levels

Hanqing Chen, Xuanbi Fang, Tak-Hap Wong, Sze Ngai Chan, Babatunde Akinwunmi, Wai-Kit Ming, Casper J. P. Zhang and Zilian Wang
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Hanqing Chen: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
Xuanbi Fang: Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Tak-Hap Wong: Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Sze Ngai Chan: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Babatunde Akinwunmi: Center for Genomic Medicine (CGM), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02142, USA
Wai-Kit Ming: Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Casper J. P. Zhang: School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Zilian Wang: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-15

Abstract: Objective: to quantify pregnant women’s physical activity during pregnancy using wearable accelerometers and a self-reported scale and to examine the variation in these two physical activity measures in relation to fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and presence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: this prospective observational study included 197 pregnant women from one of the largest regional hospitals in South China. Women with singleton pregnancy, absence of pre-existing comorbidities and pre-specified contraindications, wore an accelerometer on their waist for 7 consecutive days to objectively record their physical activity, followed by completing a past-7-day physical activity questionnaire, three times, respectively, in three trimesters. GDM was determined by 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 24–28th week’s gestation and FPG was obtained in both 1st and 2nd trimesters following standard practice. Results: pregnant women engaged highest levels of various physical activity types in 2nd trimester, except accelerometer-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity which gradually decreased in pregnancy. Pregnant women were more likely to walk in 3rd trimester. The relationship between objective total physical activity and self-reported total physical activity was non-linear. Increased trend of FPG from 1st trimester to 2nd trimester disappeared when adjusting for accelerometer-based light physical activity and attenuated when including walking. Self-reported moderate physical activity was surprisingly positively associated with GDM. Conclusions: different patterns in physical activity between objective measure and self-report in relation to gestational glucose levels were observed. Short-term increase in moderate physical activity prior to OGTT may not be necessary for reducing presence of GDM. Future glucose management for pregnant women may be targeted at lower intensity physical activity.

Keywords: gestational diabetes mellitus; blood sugar; fasting plasma glucose; pregnant; international physical activity questionnaire (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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