Increased time in sedentary behaviour was significantly associated with higher levels of C Reactive Protein and LDL Cholesterol , and a larger newborn abdominal circumference .
Discrepancies were found in associations of sedentary behaviour with gestational weight gain , hypertensive disorders , and birth weight .
No consistent associations were found between sedentary behaviour and other variables such as gestational diabetes .
Conclusions Our review highlights the significant time spent in sedentary behaviour during pregnancy , and that sedentary behaviour may impact on pregnancy outcomes for both mother and child .
Background In the general population , at least 50 % of time awake is spent in sedentary behaviours .
Sedentary behaviours are activities that expend less energy than 1.5 metabolic equivalents , such as sitting .
The amount of time spent in sedentary behaviours is a risk factor for diseases such as type 2 diabetes , cardiovascular disease , and death from all causes .
Even individuals meeting physical activity guidelines are at a higher risk of premature death and adverse metabolic outcomes if they sit for extended intervals .
The associations between sedentary behaviour with type 2 diabetes and with impaired glucose tolerance are stronger for women than for men .
It is not known whether sedentary behaviour in pregnancy influences pregnancy outcomes , but if those negative outcomes observed in general adult population also occur in pregnancy , this could have implication s for adverse outcomes for mothers and offspring .
We aim ed to determine the proportion of time spent in sedentary behaviours among pregnant women , and the association of sedentary behaviour with pregnancy outcomes in mothers and offspring .
The Relationship of Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour with Gestational Weight Gain and Birth Weight
Objective . To evaluate the relationship of physical activity ( PA ) and sedentary behaviour with  gestational weight gain ( GWG ) and birth weight . Design . Combined data from two prospect i ve studies : ( 1 ) nulliparous pregnant women without BMI restrictions and ( 2 ) overweight and obese pregnant women at risk for gestational diabetes . Methods . Daily PA and sedentary behaviour were measured with an accelerometer around 15 and at 32–35 weeks of gestation . The association between time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA ( MVPA ) and in  sedentary activities  with GWG and birth weight was determined . Main outcome measures were GWG between 15 and 32 weeks of gestation , average GWG per week , and birth weight . Results . We studied 111 women . Early in pregnancy , 32 % of women spent ≥30 minutes/day in at least moderate PA versus 12 % in late pregnancy . No significant associations were found between time spent in MVPA or sedentary behaviour with GWG or birth weight . Conclusions . We found no relation  between MVPA and sedentary behaviour with GWG or birth weight . The small percentage of women meeting the recommended levels of PA indicates the need to inform and support pregnant women to maintain regular PA , as there seems to be no adverse effect on birth weight and maintaining PA increases overall health
Increased time in sedentary behaviour was significantly associated with higher levels of C Reactive Protein and LDL Cholesterol , and a larger newborn abdominal circumference .
Discrepancies were found in associations of sedentary behaviour with gestational weight gain , hypertensive disorders , and birth weight .
No consistent associations were found between sedentary behaviour and other variables such as gestational diabetes .
Conclusions Our review highlights the significant time spent in sedentary behaviour during pregnancy , and that sedentary behaviour may impact on pregnancy outcomes for both mother and child .
Background In the general population , at least 50 % of time awake is spent in sedentary behaviours .
Sedentary behaviours are activities that expend less energy than 1.5 metabolic equivalents , such as sitting .
The amount of time spent in sedentary behaviours is a risk factor for diseases such as type 2 diabetes , cardiovascular disease , and death from all causes .
Even individuals meeting physical activity guidelines are at a higher risk of premature death and adverse metabolic outcomes if they sit for extended intervals .
The associations between sedentary behaviour with type 2 diabetes and with impaired glucose tolerance are stronger for women than for men .
It is not known whether sedentary behaviour in pregnancy influences pregnancy outcomes , but if those negative outcomes observed in general adult population also occur in pregnancy , this could have implication s for adverse outcomes for mothers and offspring .
We aim ed to determine the proportion of time spent in sedentary behaviours among pregnant women , and the association of sedentary behaviour with pregnancy outcomes in mothers and offspring .