The Study
2019 Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy
This study looked at lots of other studies where pregnant women were randomly assigned to exercise or not, and found that those who exercised were less likely to get certain problems like gestational diabetes. But it doesn't prove exercise is the only reason — other things could have helped too.
Analysis score
Maximum 85 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
When pregnant women move their bodies regularly—like walking or swimming—they’re less likely to get sick with pregnancy-related problems and more likely to feel better mentally.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 539 / 100
Quality score
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cohort studies. They sit above a single cohort study but below a single randomized trial, because the underlying evidence is still observational.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes—these are common, serious pregnancy complications; reducing them by nearly half means exercise can prevent many hospital visits and health risks.
- 2Exercise lowers risk of gestational diabetes by 38%, pre-eclampsia by 41%, depression by 67%, and big babies by 39%.
- 3It doesn’t increase risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, or low birth weight.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Year
2018
Authors
M. Mottola, Margie H. Davenport, Stephanie-May Ruchat, Gregory A. L. Davies, V. Poitras, C. Gray, A. Jaramillo Garcia, N. Barrowman, K. Adamo, M. Duggan, R. Barakat, P. Chilibeck, K. Fleming, Milena Forte, Jillian Korolnek, T. Nagpal, L. Slater, D. Stirling, Lori Zehr
Related Content
Claims (4)
If a woman keeps exercising at the same level she did before getting pregnant, she’s less likely to run into pregnancy-related health problems than if she cuts back on exercise.
Working out with weights while pregnant doesn't harm the mom or the baby — it's safe.
If a pregnant woman gets at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, she’s less likely to develop gestational diabetes, high blood pressure during pregnancy, or pre-eclampsia.
Working out while pregnant doesn't make it more likely for a mom to lose the baby, have the baby too early, or have a baby with low weight — it's generally safe for most pregnant women.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.