Regular, moderate intensity maternal exercise reduces birth weight but increases the risk of later childhood adiposity

Methods Of the initial 84 women and their offspring who participated in the RCT, follow-up data were available on 46 mothers (26 exercisers, 20 controls) and 46 children. At each follow-up visit (6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 4 years, 6-8 years) clinical assessment included measurement of mothers’ and children’s heights, weights, BMI, and waist circumference, as well as blood pressure. Body composition was assessed in both mothers and children by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans at 4-year and 7-year follow-up visits.