Effects of Exercise During Pregnancy on the Long-term Metabolic Health of Mothers and Their Offspring

Long-Term Effects of Exercise During Pregnancy on the Metabolic Health of Mothers and Their Offspring: An 8- to 10-year Follow-Up Study

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term metabolic effects of gestational exercise on overweight and obese women and their offspring 8-10 years post-intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Metabolic Health
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: exercise

Detailed Description

We conducted a follow-up study of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which the impact of prenatal exercise on the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was investigated. Mother-offspring pairs underwent comprehensive metabolic evaluations, including anthropometric measurements (weight, skinfold thickness, and body composition), blood pressure assessment, oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs), insulin release tests (IRTs), and lipid profiling.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 221

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Beijing, China, 100034
    • Peking University First Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This follow-up of a randomized trial included 300 overweight/obese pregnant women (prepregnancy BMI ≥24, <12⁺⁶ weeks gestation) from Peking University First Hospital (Dec 2014-Apr 2017). They were randomized to an exercise group (n=150, cycling three times/week, ≥30 min/session) or control group (n=150, usual activities). After excluding those who missed the OGTT (18 exercise, 17 control), 132 and 133 mother-offspring pairs, respectively, were included.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- 132 mothers in the exercise group and 133 mothers in the control group in the previous RCT trial who had OGTT results and their offsprings were eligible for follow-up

Exclusion Criteria:

- The criteria for exclusion from the follow-up study included loss to follow-up, refusal to participate, or major illness (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) of the mother or the child.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
exercise group; We conduct a follow-up study of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which the impact of prenatal exercise on the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was investigated. Mother-offspring pairs underwent follow up	Behavioral: exercise; The present study is a prospective follow-up of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, from December 2014 to April 2017. In this RCT, 300 obese/overweight pregnant women (prepregnancy BMI ≥24 kg/m²) at <12+6 weeks of gestation were randomized to exercise (n=150) and control groups (n=150), and the efficacy of regular exercise in early pregnancy to prevent GDM among overweight/obese pregnant Chinese women was investigated. The patients allocated to the exercise group were assigned to a cycling program (3 times per week, at least 30 min/session, rating of perceived exertion 12-14); the program was initiated within 3 days of randomization and continued until 37 weeks of gestation. The patients in the control group maintained their usual daily activities. The original RCT has been reported previously （Wang, C.Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2017, 216 (4), 340-351.)
control group; We conduct a follow-up study of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which the impact of prenatal exercise on the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was investigated. Mother-offspring pairs underwent follow up

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
OGTT	75-g oral glucose tolerance test （0h，2h，mmol/L）	8-10 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
BMI	weight in kilograms, height in meters, and weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m2	8-10 years
anthropometric measures	anthropometric measurements include waist circumference and skinfold thickness (centimeters) using skinfold caliper. Additionally，And use a body composition analyzer to measure body fat content and distribution （ The fat mass [kg]； fat percentage [%]； visceral fat area [cm2]； and lean mass [kg] were determined using bioimpedance analysis）.	8-10 years
insulin resistance	plasma insulin levels were measured using electrochemiluminescence, and insulin resistance was calculated via the HOMA equation (fasting plasma insulin concentration (μIU/mL) × fasting glucose concentration (mmol/L)/22.5).	8-10 years
lipid profile	fasting lipid profiles, including total cholesterol (TCHO), triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured via the cholesterol oxidase method (mmol/L)	8-10 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Peking University First Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Chen Wang, Peking University Frist hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 15, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): November 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 17, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 21, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 21, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; Obesity; Follow-up; Metabolism; Maternal-offspring
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavior; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Obesity; Motor Activity; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Exercise
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2021YFC2700700

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No