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- Title
Predictors of Postpartum Exercise According to Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain.
- Authors
Downs, Danielle Symons; Leonard, Krista S.; Beiler, Jessica S.; Paul, Ian M.
- Abstract
Background: The study purposes were to examine (1) differences in postpartum exercise (EX) and related personal/psychological correlates in women according to prepregnancy weight and pregnancy gestational weight gain (GWG) status and (2) predictors of EX at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months postpartum. Methods: Participants (N = 891) were recruited at maternity hospitalization and completed interviews to assess EX (Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire) and personal correlates (demographics, anxiety/depressive symptoms) before/during pregnancy. Telephone interviews were conducted to assess postpartum EX/psychological correlates. Women were categorized according to prepregnancy weight (normal and overweight) and pregnancy GWG status (above or within weight gain guidelines): normal-above, normal-within, overweight-above, and overweight-within. Results: Low levels of EX minutes were observed in all women with significant differences for strenuous EX minutes (overweight-within women had the lowest strenuous EX; normal-weight women had more strenuous EX than overweight women regardless of GWG). Correlates explained 14%-37% of the variance in postpartum EX; prepregnancy EX and pregnancy EX were strong determinants of early postpartum EX, and early postpartum EX predicted 6-month postpartum EX. Unique predictors of EX also emerged (eg, depressive symptoms for women with GWG above guidelines). Conclusions: These study findings highlight the benefits of EX before/during pregnancy for promoting postpartum EX and suggest tailoring postpartum EX interventions based on personal/psychological correlates to maximize effectiveness.
- Subjects
POSTNATAL exercise; WEIGHT gain in pregnancy; EXERCISE for women; PHYSICAL fitness for women; HOSPITAL care
- Publication
Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 2017, Vol 14, Issue 10, p797
- ISSN
1543-3080
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1123/jpah.2016-0585