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. 2014 Feb;40(1):67-75.
doi: 10.1016/j.diabet.2013.09.005. Epub 2013 Oct 22.

Physical activity before and during pregnancy and risk of abnormal glucose tolerance among Hispanic women

L Chasan-Taber  1 , M Silveira  2 , K E Lynch  2 , P Pekow  2 , B Braun  3 , J E Manson  4 , C G Solomon  4 , G Markenson  5
Affiliations

Physical activity before and during pregnancy and risk of abnormal glucose tolerance among Hispanic women

L Chasan-Taber et al. Diabetes Metab. 2014 Feb.

Abstract

Aim: Women diagnosed with abnormal glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes mellitus are at increased risk for subsequent type 2 diabetes, with higher risks in Hispanic women. Studies suggest that physical activity may be associated with a reduced risk of these disorders; however, studies in Hispanic women are sparse.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated this association among 1241 Hispanic participants in Proyecto Buena Salud. The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess pre, early, and mid pregnancy physical activity. Medical records were abstracted for pregnancy outcomes.

Results: A total of 175 women (14.1%) were diagnosed with abnormal glucose tolerance and 57 women (4.6%) were diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Increasing age and body mass index were strongly and positively associated with risk of gestational diabetes. We did not observe statistically significant associations between total physical activity or meeting exercise guidelines and risk. However, after adjusting for age, BMI, gestational weight gain, and other important risk factors, women in the top quartile of moderate-intensity activity in early pregnancy had a decreased risk of abnormal glucose tolerance (odds ratio=0.48, 95% Confidence Interval 0.27-0.88, Ptrend=0.03) as compared to those in the lowest quartile. Similarly, women with the highest levels of occupational activity in early pregnancy had a decreased risk of abnormal glucose tolerance (odds ratio=0.48, 95% Confidence Interval 0.28-0.85, Ptrend=0.02) as compared to women who were unemployed.

Conclusion: In this Hispanic population, total physical activity and meeting exercise guidelines were not associated with risk. However, high levels of moderate-intensity and occupational activity were associated with risk reduction.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Gestational diabetes; Hispanic; Physical activity; Prospective.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest concerning this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Recruitment and retention of participants; Proyecto Buena Salud, Western Massachusetts, 2006–2011.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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