Research
Energy balance
Engaging in more than 90 minutes per week of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) before pregnancy is associated with a 46% reduction in the odds of developing GDM.
Aim for at least 90 minutes of leisure activity per week before you conceive. This doesn't mean intense gym sessions; it can be walking, gardening, or dancing. This specific volume cuts your risk of gestational diabetes by nearly half.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Engaging in >90 min/week of leisure time PA before pregnancy was associated with 46% decreased odds of GDM.
Why this rating
Based on meta-analysis of LTPA studies, though heterogeneity was medium (I2=70%).
Source
Associations of Diet and Physical Activity with Risk for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Jovana Mijatovic et al. · Nutrients · 2018
DOI 10.3390/nu10060698
Meta-analysis · 40 studiesCited 315×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Engaging in any physical activity before pregnancy is associated with a 30% reduction in the odds of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to no activity.Good
- Adherence to Mediterranean (MedDiet) or DASH dietary patterns is associated with a 15–38% reduction in the relative risk of developing GDM.Good
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