Women who suffer from depression during pregnancy from the second trimester onward end up spending more time sitting and not expending energy. This behavior results in a higher chance of the pregnant woman developing gestational diabetes and experiencing significant weight gain.

Studies carried out in pregnant women have found that physical inactivity has completely negative effects on women’s health. Likewise, excessive amounts of physical exertion are also not recommended. There is a general consensus that moderate physical activities during pregnancy have a positive impact on the life and health of the mother-to-be. A sedentary lifestyle poses risks to the life of any human being, at any stage of life. Lack of physical activity leads to serious health problems in addition to excessive weight gain and its complications.

These long periods without activity result in problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, mental health problems and also physical issues such as knee and joint pain.

Older studies show that a sedentary lifestyle results in negative effects on metabolism, vascular health, and bone mineral content, as well as increased levels of triglycerides in the blood. Comparing this with people from earlier times who did more physical work—such as in agriculture—and used more energy-consuming means of transportation like bicycles, today’s work is mainly done while sitting at desks in front of computers, with no physical activities being carried out.

The risks linked to a sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy were studied by Nythia Sukumar at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom and presented at the annual endocrinology conference. A total of 1,263 pregnant women were monitored from the first trimester until the end of their pregnancy, answering questionnaires about their physical activity during this period. After analyzing their BMI, age, and economic status, the results clearly pointed to sedentary women as the main patients suffering from depression and its health recurrences, as well as experiencing elevated weight gain. That’s why physical activity and exercise during pregnancy are recommended to decrease the risk of gestational diabetes and other health problems that may pose greater risks to the lives of the mother and baby.

See also: Exercises During Pregnancy – Which Can I Do?

Photo: Alberto Gambardella