Physical Activity Reduces Gestational Diabetes

A study of 21,765 women participatingin the Nurses Health Study II foundthat women who are physically activeprior to pregnancy are less prone todeveloping gestational diabetes whilepregnant. The participants, who had hadat least one pregnancy between 1990and 1998, completed questionnairesassessing the level of physical activityand inactive behavior.

After taking into consideration severalfactors, the researchers found thatwomen with the highest levels of physicalactivity were 23% less apt to developthe condition, compared withsedentary women. Reporting in theArchives of Internal Medicine (March13, 2006), the researchers indicatedthat women who walked briskly were34% less prone to developing the condition,compared with women whowalked at an easy pace.