Physical activity and gestational weight gain: a meta-analysis of intervention trials.

Summary: Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can lead to health complications for both the mother and the baby. Researchers reviewed 12 high-quality studies involving healthy pregnant women to see if exercise alone could prevent excessive weight gain. They found that women who engaged in physical activity gained, on average, about 0.61 kg (roughly 1.3 lbs) less than those who did not exercise. While the difference is modest, this study confirms that staying active is a safe and effective strategy to help manage weight during pregnancy.