Exercise Training in Pregnancy for Obese Mothers

Observational studies demonstrate that overweight in pregnancy is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes as fetal macrosomia, prolonged labor, low Apgar score, shoulder dystocia, nerve plexus injuries, increased proportion of instrumental deliveries and perineal ruptures. There is a 2.6 fold risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (fourfold in morbidly obese women) and a recent study has shown that fetuses of obese mothers develop insulin resistance in uterus. Main aims of this study are to assess if regular exercise in pregnancy among obese women can prevent or influence weight gain; impaired cardiac function in mother and fetus/newborn; impaired vascular function in mother; insulin resistance/sensitivity; body composition in mother and offspring; lumbopelvic pain; urinary and/or fecal incontinence; prolonged labor