Long-Term Effects of Exercise During Pregnancy on the Metabolic Health of Mothers with Overweight/Obesity and Their Offspring: An 8- to 10-Year Follow-Up Study.
Adv TherJun 12, 2026 (epub)
Jiamei Guo, Qidi Zhang, Yu Deng et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial followed 118 mothers with overweight/obesity and their 110 offspring 8-10 years post-intervention to assess the long-term metabolic effects of prenatal exercise. Mothers who exercised showed significantly better glycemic control and improved body composition compared to controls, with lower fasting plasma glucose levels of 5.00 vs. 5.08 mmol/L (adj. P < 0.001).
Key findings
- Mothers in the exercise group had lower fasting plasma glucose levels: 5.00 vs. 5.08 mmol/L, adj. P < 0.001.
- Improved body composition in mothers included a lower BMI: 27.15 vs. 29.45 kg/m², adj. P = 0.001.
- Offspring of exercising mothers had a lower prevalence of overweight/obesity: 37.93% vs. 48.07%, adj. P = 0.002.
- Mothers exhibited reduced insulin resistance with HOMA-IR: 1.96 vs. 3.00, P = 0.008.
Why it matters
The findings highlight the importance of prenatal exercise in improving long-term metabolic health for mothers with overweight/obesity and potentially reducing obesity risk in their children, which is crucial for preventing future health complications.