Sedentary Behavior Linked to Pregnancy Risks, Study Says
Why It Matters
If causal, reducing prolonged sitting in pregnancy could be a low-cost strategy to lower immediate maternal and neonatal complications and may also reduce mothers' long-term cardiovascular risk; definitive trials and clear clinical guidance are needed to translate these findings into practice.
Summary
A multi-site cohort study using thigh-worn accelerometers found more than half of pregnant participants sat over 10 hours a day, and those in the highest-sitting group had roughly double the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes—including hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age infants—compared with the lowest-sitting group (about 40% vs 20%). The association was larger than expected for sedentary behavior studies, prompting investigators to suggest pregnancy may be a period of heightened vulnerability to prolonged sitting. Small intervention trials encouraging more standing and light movement showed promise, but investigators say definitive randomized trials are needed before issuing concrete sitting-time guidelines. In the meantime researchers recommend simple, low-intensity activity breaks as a likely low-risk way to reduce potential harms and improve maternal well-being.
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