The influence of exercise and BMI on food choices during pregnancy
Background: Exercise is linked to health-conscious behaviors, such as healthy eating, through psychophysiological pathways that include improvements in executive functioning. The influence of exercise while pregnant on healthy eating is currently unknown. Purpose: To determine if there are differenc...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Advanced Exercise and Health Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950273X24000559 |
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| Summary: | Background: Exercise is linked to health-conscious behaviors, such as healthy eating, through psychophysiological pathways that include improvements in executive functioning. The influence of exercise while pregnant on healthy eating is currently unknown. Purpose: To determine if there are differences in food choices of women who exercised (EX) or not (CON) during pregnancy, and if this differed by pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI; normal weight, NW; overweight/obese, OWOB). Methods: This study was a secondary analysis to examine the food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) of pregnant women randomized to 150 min/wk of EX (n = 72) or CON (n = 16). Maternal descriptors and pre-pregnancy BMI were collected at enrollment (≤16 weeks gestation). At enrollment and at 36 weeks gestation, women reported the frequency of specific food consumption across a range of food groups based on a Likert-scale ranging from 1-rarely or never eat the food to 5- eat the food more than once/day. Results: OWOB EX increased consumption of nutrient-dense foods from enrollment to 36 weeks pregnancy and these results were not seen in OWOB CON and NW CON groups. Since FFQ is self-reported and captures a broad scope of habitual diet, it is important for future research in this area. Conclusion: Overall, data in our study suggests that OWOB women who start exercising during pregnancy also improve their diet. Thus, future research should investigate how exercise may influence changes in nutrient intake during pregnancy. |
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| ISSN: | 2950-273X |