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Associations Of Sedentary Time And Physical Activity Across Pregnancy With Birth Anthropometrics And Gestational Age At Delivery: 315
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Associations Of Sedentary Time And Physical Activity Across Pregnancy With Birth Anthropometrics And Gestational Age At Delivery: 315

Melissa A. Jones, Bethany Barone Gibbs, Jaemyung Kim, Alex Crisp and Kara M. Whitaker
Medicine and science in sports and exercise, Vol.58(10S), 315
10/2026
DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0001259632.30976.2c

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Abstract

PURPOSE: Gestational age at delivery (GAD) and birth anthropometrics are indicators of fetal growth and well-being. Sedentary time (SED), light (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) are modifiable behaviors during pregnancy that may impact fetal outcomes. The purpose of this analysis is to examine associations of maternal movement behaviors with GAD and birth anthropometrics. METHODS: The present study is a secondary analysis of the Pregnancy 24/7 cohort study (n=470). SED, LPA, and MVPA were measured using the activPAL3 micro thigh-mounted accelerometer which was worn for 7 full days in each trimester of pregnancy. Trajectory analysis was used for each behavior to group individuals into distinct trajectory groups that most closely reflect their behavior pattern across pregnancy. Birth outcomes including GAD, birthweight, birth length and sex were abstracted from medical records. International and US-specific growth standards were used to calculate body mass index z-scores at birth (BMIz) and birthweight for gestational age percentiles, respectively. Percentiles ≤10 or ≥90 were categorized as small (SGA) or large (LGA) for gestational age. Separate linear regression and multinomial logistic regression models examined associations between SED, LPA, and MVPA trajectory groups with BMIz and GAD and risk of SGA and LGA, compared to adequate for gestational age. RESULTS: Trajectory analyses generated four distinct groups (low, low-mod, mod-high, high) for SED, LPA, and MVPA. Results are presented in Table 1. Mod-high SED (compared to low) was associated with shorter GAD while mod-high and high MVPA were associated with longer GAD in a dose-response manner. Neither SED, LPA, or MVPA were associated with BMIz or risk of SGA or LGA. CONCLUSIONS: Higher accelerometer-measured MVPA and lower SED across pregnancy may be advantageous for longer gestation, but activity patterns do not appear to be related to anthropometrics at birth.

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