Perception of Chinese Pregnant Women of Weight, Obesity and Exercise, and Their Exercise Habits during Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: Obesity is known to be associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Published guidelines suggest that moderate exercise for up to 30 minutes daily is safe and beneficial during pregnancy. There are nonetheless limited data for a Chinese population. This study examined the perception of pregnant women of weight, obesity and exercise during pregnancy, and their exercise habits before and during pregnancy.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a regional hospital in Hong Kong. Chinese pregnant women who attended an antenatal clinic for an oral glucose tolerance test during their third trimester were asked to complete a questionnaire that covered several domains, including demographic data, perception of weight and obesity in pregnancy, exercise pattern before and during pregnancy, and the perceived safety of exercise during pregnancy. Questionnaires were collected and analysed.
Results: Questionnaires were completed by 712 pregnant women. In all, 23.8% of the study population were diagnosed to have gestational diabetes. Overweight women were more likely to perceive themselves as being of normal weight (p<0.001). Although 47.9% of women were aware of the increased risks associated with obesity in pregnancy, only 14.1% of women knew all of the risks listed. Those who exercised before pregnancy and those who were given advice on exercise during pregnancy were more likely to exercise during pregnancy (p<0.001). Nonetheless only 4.5% of women who exercised before pregnancy exercised at the recommended level during pregnancy. In addition, 82.3% of women were interested in receiving more information on exercise during pregnancy. Moderate-intensity exercise once or twice per week was considered safe by 69.4% of women, but only 31% considered the same to be so for exercise more than 5 times per week.
Conclusion: Overweight pregnant women were more likely to consider their weight as normal. Awareness of pregnancy complications associated with obesity was generally lacking. Although the majority of pregnant women exercised during pregnancy, only a minor proportion exercised at the recommended level. Most women were keen to have more information about exercise in pregnancy.