Long-term outcome after exercising throughout pregnancy: fitness and cardiovascular risk

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to test the null hypothesis that continuing vigorous weight-bearing exercise throughout pregnancy has no discernible long-term effect on indices of fitness and/or cardiovascular risk.

Study design: This was a follow-up observational study of the fitness and cardiovascular risk profile of 39 women conducted on the General Clinical Research Center at the University of Vermont. Data were analyzed using the paired Student t test, analysis of variance, and linear regression.

Results: Women who voluntarily maintain their exercise regimen during pregnancy continue to exercise over time at a higher level than those who stop. Over time they also gain less weight (3.4 vs 9.9 kg), deposit less fat (2.2 vs 6.7 kg), have increased fitness, and have a lower cardiovascular risk profile than those who stop.

Conclusion: Women who continue weight-bearing exercise during pregnancy maintain their long-term fitness and have a low cardiovascular risk profile in the perimenopausal period.

Figures

FIGURE 1. VO2max now and then

The relationship between absolute VO2max now and that present prior to pregnancy is shown. The equation describing the relationship is y = 282 + 0.775x, and the r2 is 0.6326.

FIGURE 2. Current exercise training volume and current weight-adjusted VO2max

The relationship between current exercise training volume and current weight-adjusted VO2max is shown. Current exercise training volume is expressed as a percentage of the subject’s training volume prior to pregnancy (%ptp). The equation describing the overall relationship is y = 37.8 + 0.048x, and the r2 is 0.1563. However, if only the linear portion of the relationship is analyzed (current exercise volume between 5% and 100%), the r2 is 0.3522.

FIGURE 3. Current exercise training volume and the change in percent body fat over time

The relationship between current exercise training volume (% ptp) and the change in percent body fat over time is shown. The equation describing the relationship is y = 9.2 – 0.07x, and the r2 is 0.3385.