Exercise Training in Pregnancy for Obese Mothers

Women with a self-reported pre-pregnancy BMI of 28 or more will be eligible for our study. Woman are eligible if they are 18 years or older, with a singleton live fetus at an early (week 12-14) ultrasound scan. Exclusion criteria are pregnancy complications with high risk for preterm labour or diseases that could interfere with participation.

Primary outcome measure is weight increase based on weight measured at 14 weeks and immediately before labour. Assessments are done at baseline at 14 (12-18) weeks of pregnancy, and again in week 38, as well as 3 months postpartum. Some measurements are also done at other points in time. The maternal secondary outcome measurements include fasting glucose, glucose tolerance assessed by 2-h, 75 mg per-oral glucose tolerance test, insulin resistance assessed by HOMA-IR, weight, height, body composition estimated by skinfold measurements in pregnancy and by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry postpartum, blood markers, lumbopelvic pain, urin- and fecal incontinence, quality of life, psychological wellbeing, depression, and diet.

Inclusion criteria

• Pre-pregnancy body mass index of 28 or more
• 18 years or more
• singleton live fetus at the routine ultrasound scan

Exclusion criteria

• high risk for preterm labor or diseases that could interfere with participation