Effects of supervised exercise training during pregnancy on psychological well-being among overweight and obese women: Secondary analyses of the ETIP-trial, a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Women with high body mass index (BMI) have increased risk for symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy and postpartum. In this pre-specified secondary analysis from the ETIP trial, our aim was to examine effects of supervised exercise during pregnancy on psychological well-being in late pregnancy and postpartum among women with a pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2.

Design: Single-centre, parallel group, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: University Hospital, Norway

Participants: Ninety-one women (age 31.2±4.1 years, BMI 34.5±4.2 kg/m2), 46 in the exercise group, 45 in the control group, were included in the trial.

Intervention: The exercise group was offered three weekly supervised exercise sessions (35 minutes of moderate intensity walking/running and 25 minutes of resistance training), until delivery.

Primary and secondary outcomes measures: Primary analyses were based on intention to treat, with secondary per-protocol analyses. To assess psychologi...