Exercising During Pregnancy Helps Cut Obesity In Children Later: Study

A recent study reveals that exercising during pregnancy helps in curbing obesity and chances of diabetes in children later.

 The study by University of Virginia School of Medicine explores the long term effects of exercising during pregnancy on the health of the child. More specifically, the researchers have tried to illuminate on how exercising during pregnancy helps in lowering the epigenetic influences that may trigger obesity risks and diabetes in children.

There have been multiple researches where food patterns and unhealthy life style in children have been held responsible for aggravating obesity and developing diabetes. The current study for the first time has looked into epigenetic factors that may also lead to obesity and how exercising during pregnancy helps in reducing such influences.

"There are plenty of population studies that show that a high-fat diet or obesity will program the offspring and increase their risk of developing diabetes or high blood pressure when they grow up," said Rhianna Laker, the lead author of the study, reports medical express. "We set up an animal model of maternal obesity and exercise in pregnancy because no one has looked at the epigenetic influence of exercise during pregnancy that could benefit the offspring."

 The researchers conducted the initial rounds of testing on mice that were fed a high-fat diet and made to exercise on a wheel during pregnancy and the metabolic and epigenetic outcomes were assessed in the off springs. However, the researchers claim they need to conduct further clinical tests to prove similar effects on human beings.

According to the researchers, besides obesity and diabetes, exercising during pregnancy also helps in treating other diseases like atherosclerosis. A recent study states that exercising 20 minutes for three times a week during pregnancy helps in accelerating brain growth of the fetus.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommends pregnant women to avoid any heavy exercises during this period.  The best exercises during pregnancy are walking, stretching, swimming and prenatal yoga.