Practical implications
• Despite the benefits of exercise during pregnancy, many
women are not sufficiently active. Health professionals
who interact with pregnant women need to remain aware
of the importance of exercise promotion.
• Factors associated with a higher risk for inactivity include
lower education and income, having other children in the
home, and not being white. Health educators need to be
aware of these risk factors in order to tailor their messages
more effectively.
• Women who are active prior to pregnancy tend to remain
more active during pregnancy. For this reason, women
planning to have children should be encouraged to adopt
an active lifestyle before they conceive.
Acknowledgments