Obesity and physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum: Evidence, guidelines, and recommendations

Abstract

This chapter provides clinicians and researchers with an overview of the physical activity and pregnancy/postpartum literature to promote physical activity, understand the determinants and outcomes of physical activity participation among pregnant and postpartum women, recognize the scant literature pertaining to overweight and obese women, and inform next steps in practice, prevention, and research. We discuss (a) physical activity guidelines; (b) prevalence rates of physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum; (c) determinants, health outcomes, and critical gaps in the literature of pre-and postnatal physical activity; and (d) recommendations for research and practice to facilitate physical activity initiation, motivation, and maintenance across the transition to motherhood.