Moderate Exercise During Pregnancy Linked to Lower Risk of Premature Birth in Women with Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GD) who engage in moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) may have a lower risk of delivering prematurely, according to a new study published in *JAMA Network Open*.
The study, led by researchers at Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine in China, followed 1,427 women with GD who wore wearable accelerometers to track their physical activity levels. The results showed a clear inverse relationship between increased MVPA and the risk of preterm birth.
Benefits of Physical Activity
Specifically, the researchers found:
* For every 30-minute increase in MVPA, the odds of preterm birth decreased.
* The longer the duration of MVPA per day, the lower the risk of preterm birth, up to a plateau at about 74 minutes per day.
* The benefits were seen regardless of whether the activity was concentrated into a few days or spread out more evenly throughout the week.
“These findings provide key evidence for the health benefits of MVPA during pregnancy and lay the foundation for establishing physical activity guidelines for pregnant women with GD,” the authors write.
While more research is needed, this study highlights the importance of staying active during pregnancy, especially for women with gestational diabetes.
**Talk to your doctor about the appropriate amount and type of exercise for you during pregnancy.**
The post Exercise Reduces Preterm Birth Risk in Gestational Diabetes Study appeared first on Archynewsy.