Prenatal exercise regulates influence of parental body mass index on birth outcomes

Background: Offspring body mass index is often higher in parents with overweight or obesity, thereby increasing the risk of obesity later in life. As data has shown that exercise during pregnancy reduces gestational weight gain and offspring adiposity, we believe the intergenerational risk of obesity could be reduced. Objective: This study aimed to test the influence of paternal and maternal overweight or obesity on neonatal body mass index and other birth measures, and whether exercise during pregnancy would improve outcomes. Methods: Prenatal exercise (aerobic, resistance, or combination) was provided as a supervised exercise intervention throughout pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy body mass index was reported by mothers and fathers at enrollment. Gestational age (GA), neonatal resting heart rate (rHR), morphometrics (body circumferences, weight-to-length, body mass index), Apgar, and reflex scores were obtained at birth. Independent samples t-tests assessed the effect of exercise, while one-way ANOVA was used to detect group differences. Pearson product-moment correlations tested the intergenerational relationship of body mass index. Results: Birth outcomes were obtained for 220 women (CON: 62, AE: 68, RE: 39, AERE: 51). Women participated in exercise for an average of 17 weeks during pregnancy. Birth weight tended to be higher in offspring born to 1 or 2 parents with overweight or obesity (p = .07), thereby increasing birth weight-length ratio (p = .05). BMI was reduced for neonates born to exercising mothers (p = .08) and fathers with OB. Conclusion: These data suggest exercise during pregnancy could prevent the intergenerational cycle of obesity from parent to offspring.