Background:
Studies in the general adult population demonstrate that physical activity (PA) and exercise are important to enhance weight loss and prevent weight regain.

 

However, the effect of exercise during pregnancy on maternal weight gain is still unclear. Until the early 1980s, PA during pregnancy was discouraged primarily due to the possible risks of adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. However, results from epidemiological and clinical studies have not demonstrated risks with light and moderate exercise activities.

 

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) published the first guidelines for exercise during pregnancy in 1985. Since then, the body of research has increased and new guidelines were issued in 1994 and in 2002.

 

Today, the ACOG recommends that healthy, pregnant women should engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most, and preferably all, days of the week. Moderate intensity exercise may be described by perceived exertion and ratings of 12-14 on Borg’s conventional 15 point scale, equivalent to brisk walking.

 

Both in Norway and worldwide, there is scant knowledge about PA level and exercise during pregnancy. Only a small number of studies have described the intensity, frequency, duration and exercise-mode, and possible determinants for exercise in pregnant women. In addition, few studies have aimed at preventing excessive maternal weight gain. There is a need of high quality RCTs in this area.

 

The aims of the present dissertation were:
Paper 1
To describe total PA level (at work, in movement, housework and recreational exercise) in pregnant women and investigate the association between weight gain, PA and exercise during pregnancy.
 

Paper 2
To report pregnant women’s reasons for performing or not performing regular exercise, and to compare demographic, pregnancy related health factors and social modelling in Norwegian women exercising and not exercising in the 3rd trimester.

 

Paper 3
To compare self-reported PA level and activity patterns with a portable activity monitor (ActiReg®, PreMed AS, Oslo, Norway) (Paper III).

Paper 4
To assess whether a 12-week pregnancy exercise program - including 60 minutes of supervised aerobic dance performed at least 2 times per week and advice of 30 minutes of moderate self-imposed PA on the remaining week-days - can prevent excessive gestational weight gain (Paper IV).

 

Main results: 
Paper 1

A low level of daily PA and regular recreational exercise was shown in the present study of pregnant women in Oslo. There was a decline in exercise intensity, duration and frequency from before pregnancy and throughout the course of pregnancy. Walking was the most common exercise mode. Women who exercised regularly had significantly lower weight gain than inactive women in the 3rd trimester only.

Paper 2
Pre-pregnancy physical inactivity was the strongest predictor of decreased maternal exercise in the 3rd trimester. In addition, women who decreased regular exercise in the 3rd trimester had higher weight gain and reported to have no social role models with respect to exercise behaviour during childhood. The most frequently reported barriers towards exercise were: pregnancy complaints; lack of time; too much effort to get started and childcare difficulties.

 

Paper3
Comparison of the PAPQ and the ActiReg indicated only small differences between the two methods in cross-tabulation of total PA level and proportion of participants meeting the current exercise guidelines.

 

Paper 4
Only women attending regularly to the prescribed exercise program significantly reduced maternal weight gain. No women attending 24 exercise sessions exceeded the IOM recommendations.

Lene A. H. Haakstad (09.05.1972) was born in Oslo. She obtained her Teacher Training degree from Oslo University in 1994 and started then Bachelors degree in physical activity and health at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NSSS). She completed her Master’s degree in physical activity and health from NSSS in 1998. Lene started her PhD in January 2005, and has been supervised by Professor Kari Bø.

 Evaluation committee
Leder:  Professor Jorunn Sungot-Borgen, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences 
1. opponent:  Professor Anne Eskild, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
2. opponent:  Professor Mikael Fogelholm, Health Research Unit, Academy of   Finland, Helsinki, FinlandUniversity of Bath, England

 

Programme:
10.15 – 11.00 Trial lecture: "Fysisk aktivitet i svangerskapet: hva vet vi om mulige positive og negative konsekvenser?"

13.00 – 16.00 Dissertation

 

Both the trial lecture and the dissertation are open for the audience. 

 

Welcome!