EFFECT OF AEROBIC EXERCISE TRAINING ON MATERNAL WEIGHT GAIN IN PREGNANCY A META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Weight gains in pregnancy within the recommended guidelines are associated withhealthy fetal and maternal outcomes; higher weight gains are associated with fetal macrosomia. Thisstudy was a systemic review of randomized controlled trials on the effect of aerobic training on maternalweight in pregnancy.METHODS: The study data source was publications through May 2012 in the MEDLINE (PubMed)database. The citation lists of randomized controlled trials on the effect of aerobic training and maternalweight were extracted. Data on participants’ characteristics, study quality, population, intervention,treatment outcome (maternal weight gain) were collected and analyzed.RESULTS: There were 11 randomized controlled studies using body weight (kg) as measure of treatmentoutcome. A total of 1177 subjects were recruited in the 11 studies. The mean± SD weight gain (kg) forthe exercise (11.31± 7.44kg) and control (14.42± 6.60kg) groups; Meta-analysis result indicatedsignificant effect of aerobic training on maternal weight (t= -7.580, p= .000) at p< 0.05.CONCLUSION: It was concluded that aerobic training is an effective tool in maternal weight gaincontrol in pregnancy. More randomized controlled trials are warranted.