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Objectively recorded physical activity in early pregnancy: A multiethnic population‐based study
Author(s) -
Berntsen S.,
Richardsen K. R.,
Mørkrid K.,
Sletner L.,
Birkeland K. I.,
Jenum A. K.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.12034
Subject(s) - medicine , demography , ethnic group , physical activity , pregnancy , parity (physics) , population , cohort , physical therapy , environmental health , physics , particle physics , sociology , biology , anthropology , genetics
This study aimed to compare objectively recorded physical activity ( PA ) levels and walking steps among pregnant women. Cross‐sectional data from a multiethnic cohort ( n = 823) of pregnant women consisting of 44% from W estern countries, 24% from S outh A sia, 14% from M iddle E ast, and 18% from other countries. PA and steps were recorded by the activity monitor SenseWear ™ P ro3 A rmband. A total of 678 women were included in the analysis. W estern women walked significantly more steps and had higher moderate‐to‐vigorous‐intensity physical activity ( MVPA ) levels compared with S outh A sian women per weekday and weekend day. Interaction terms ( P = 0.008) between ethnicity ( W estern vs S outh A sian) and parity, and education, respectively, were identified: having ≥1 children was positively associated with steps during weekends in S outh A sians in contrast to W estern women. Having <12 years education was associated with more MVPA time among S outh A sians in contrast to W estern women. S outh A sian women are prone to low levels of PA during pregnancy and S outh A sian women without children and with higher education may have an elevated risk for an inactive lifestyle during pregnancy.