A concurrent prenatal exercise program increases neonatal and placental weight and shortens labor: The GESTAFIT project.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of a supervised concurrent exercise-training program during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal birth-related outcomes and type of birth. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-nine Caucasian pregnant women from the GESTAFIT project participated in this quasi-experimental study and were allocated into control [(n = 86), (age 33.1 ± 4.8 years old, BMI 24.8 ± 4.1 kg/m2 )] or exercise group [(n = 50) (age 33.1 ± 4.1 years old, BMI: 24.7 ± 4.1 kg/m2 )]. The exercise group followed a 60-min 3 days/week concurrent (aerobic and strength) training program from the 17th gestational week until birth. Maternal and neonatal birth-related outcomes (i.e., gestational age at birth, duration of labor, placental and neonatal weight and type of birth) were collected from obstetric medical records. Umbilical arterial and venous blood gas analysis were assessed after birth. RESULTS: The exercise group increased average duration of the first stage of labor [between-group differences (B): 80.8 min, 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.18, 157.31, p = 0.03] and decreased duration of the second stage of labor [between-group differences (B): 29.8 min, 95% CI: -55.5, -4.17, p = 0.02] compared to the control group. The exercise group showed greater placental [between-group differences (B): 53.3 g (95% CI: 9.99, 96.7, p = 0.01)] and neonatal [between-group differences (B): 161.8 g (95% CI: 9.81, 313.8, p = 0.033)] weight compared to the control group. No differences between groups were found regarding type of birth (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A concurrent and supervised physical exercise program during pregnancy is safe and could promote better maternal and neonatal birth-related outcomes. More studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms by which physical exercise increases neonatal and placenta weight.

The influence of an exercise program in middle-aged women on dietary habits. The FLAMENCO project.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which following an exercise training program can modify dietary habits and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) compared with a counseling group. METHODS: These are secondary analyses from the FLAMENCO (Fitness League Against MENopause COst) project. The present randomized controlled trial included 150 perimenopausal women who were randomized into counseling (n = 75) or exercise (n = 75) groups. The counseling group attended conferences on a healthy lifestyle. The exercise group followed concurrently a 4-month (60 min/session, 3 d/wk) training and did not take part in the conferences. A validated food frequency questionnaire and the Mediterranean diet score were used to assess dietary habits and adherence to the MD, respectively. RESULTS: The fish/shellfish intake was reduced in the counseling group and increased in the exercise group, with a difference between groups of 1.16 servings/wk ( P < 0.01). The counseling group reduced their beer intake, and the exercise group increased it, with a difference between groups of 1.07 servings/wk ( P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The exercise intervention did not have a significant impact on dietary habits or MD adherence scores in perimenopausal women. Notwithstanding, women in the exercise group increased their beer consumption, which might have been promoted by the social meetings after the exercise training.

Association of objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity levels with health-related quality of life in middle-aged women: The FLAMENCO project.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the association of objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity with health-related quality of life in middle-aged women. METHODS: The present cross-sectional analyses were performed in a total of 182 middle-aged women (52.6 ±â€Š4.6 years old) from the Fitness League Against MENopause COst (FLAMENCO) project. Sedentary time and physical activity were objectively measured through accelerometry. Participants' health-related quality of life was assessed with the Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36). RESULTS: Lower sedentary time was associated with a better SF-36 emotional role (B: -0.03; 95% confidence interval: -0.07 to -0.00). Greater light physical activity was associated with a better SF-36 emotional role (B: 0.04; 95% confidence interval: 0.00-0.08). Greater moderate-vigorous physical activity was associated with a greater SF-36 physical function (B: 0.01; 95% confidence interval: 0.00-0.02) and SF-36 vitality (B: 0.02; 95% confidence interval: 0.00-0.03). Greater vigorous physical activity was associated with a better SF-36 physical function (B: 0.34; 95% confidence interval: 0.02-0.66), SF-36-bodily pain (B: 0.63; 95% confidence interval: 0.02-1.25), and the SF-36 physical component scale (B: 0.20; 95% confidence interval: 0.00-0.39). Greater total physical activity was associated with a better SF-36 emotional role (B: 0.03; 95% confidence interval: 0.00-0.07). Moderate physical activity was not associated with any SF-36 dimension (all, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Spending less time in sedentary behavior and greater physical activity levels, especially vigorous physical activity, are associated with better health-related quality of life in middle-aged women. Vigorous physical activity is associated with a better SF-36 physical component scale, which might mean a reduction in exercise time with similar improvements for women's quality of life.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02358109. Date of registration: 05/02/2015.

Doctor, ask your perimenopausal patient about her physical fitness; association of self-reported physical fitness with cardiometabolic and mental health in perimenopausal women: the FLAMENCO project.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the association of self-reported physical fitness (PF) and its components with cardiometabolic and mental health in perimenopausal women. METHODS: These cross-sectional analyses included 191 participants (53 ±â€Š4 y old) from the FLAMENCO project. Self-reported PF was assessed with the International Fitness Scale (IFIS). Body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM), waist circumference (WC), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, C-reactive protein (CRP), and glucose were measured. The Beck's Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Life Orientation Test Revised, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule were used to assess mental health. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, greater overall PF was associated with lower BMI, FM, WC (P < 0.001), DBP and CRP, and higher HDL-C (P < 0.05). Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), speed-agility, and flexibility were associated with lower BMI, WC, and FM (P < 0.001), and muscle strength (MS) with lower WC and FM (P < 0.05). In addition, CRF, MS, and speed-agility were associated with lower CRP (P < 0.01), and flexibility with enhanced triglycerides and HDL-C (P < 0.05). Overall PF and all its components were associated with lower depression, anxiety, and negative affect (P≤0.01), and greater positive affect (P≤0.05). Overall PF and MS were associated with better sleep quality (P < 0.05), and CRF, MS, and speed-agility with greater optimism (P≤0.05). Finally, overall PF showed evidence of significant association with less pharmaceutical expenditure (B = -7.2, ß=-0.145, P = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported PF was associated with better cardiometabolic and mental health in perimenopausal women. The IFIS might be proposed as an inexpensive, quick, and easy tool in clinical settings.

Association of sedentary time and physical activity during pregnancy with maternal and neonatal birth outcomes. The GESTAFIT Project.

AIM: (a) To analyse the association of objectively measured sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) during early second trimester of pregnancy with maternal and neonatal birth outcomes; (b) to explore if ST and PA differ between women with vaginal or caesarean section deliveries. METHODS: Ninety-four Caucasian pregnant women (32.9 ± 4.6 years old) participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Triaxial accelerometers were used to assess ST and PA intensity levels for seven consecutive days during second trimester of pregnancy. Birth data were collected from the obstetric medical records. Umbilical cord arterial and venous blood gas (pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide and oxygen, and oxygen saturation) were analysed after birth. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, greater ST was associated with higher arterial and venous cord blood partial pressure of carbon dioxide and more acidic arterial and venous pH (all, P < 0.01). Moderate PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), total PA and steps per day were positively associated with arterial cord blood oxygen saturation (all P < 0.05). Steps per day were inversely associated with gestational age at birth (P < 0.01), and duration of first stage of labor (P < 0.05). Total and light PA were associated with a more alkaline pH in umbilical vein (all, P < 0.01). Vigorous PA was inversely associated with the Apgar score (P < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in ST and PA levels between women with vaginal and women with caesarean section deliveries (all, P > 0.10). CONCLUSION: Increasing PA and decreasing ST during pregnancy might promote better maternal and neonatal birth markers.