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Background Maternal characteristics during pregnancy such as BMI, weight gain, and glucose tolerance have been associated with anthropometric traits in their offspring. Here we extend these observations looking at the associations between maternal body composition, weight gain by trimester, and glucose tolerance and anthropometrics in their infants. Materials and methods Participants were 31 (16 female) singleton babies and their mothers (aged 25-35 yrs) in the eastern area of the county of Västerbotten in Sweden. Maternal weight was measured at gestational weeks 10-12, 28-32, and 37-41. Maternal body composition was assessed using isotope dilution and gestational glucose tolerance was assessed with a 2-hour, 75-gram oral glucose challenge at 28-32 weeks gestation. Infant body composition was assessed at 11-19 weeks of age using air- displacement plethysmography. The relationships between maternal and infant variables were assessed with Spearman correlations. Results Mid-pregnancy weight gain was significantly positively related to fat mass (r=0.41, p= 0.022) but not fat-free mass whereas late-pregnancy weight gain was significantly positively related to infant fat-free mass (r=0.37, p=0.04) but not fat mass. Maternal weight, body composition, or glucose tolerance was not significantly related to infant body composition. Early infancy growth (weight-for-length growth z-score) from 0 to 4 months was significantly related to infant percent fat (r=0.48, p=0.006). Gestational weight gain by trimester is differently related to body composition assessed in early infancy. Additionally, greater early infancy growth is associated with higher percent fat at 4 months of age. Both of these findings might identify targets for interventions conducted in pregnancy and during early life.

Aims Overweight and obesity during pregnancy raise the risk of gestational diabetes and birth complications. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity may decrease these risks through beneficial effects on systemic glucose homeostasis. Here we examined physical activity patterns and their relationships with measures of glucose homeostasis in late pregnancy compared to non-pregnant women. Methods Normal weight and overweight women without diabetes (N=108; aged 25-35 years) were studied; 35 were pregnant (in gestational weeks 28-32) and 73 were non-pregnant. An oral glucose tolerance test was conducted from which insulin sensitivity and β-cell response were estimated. Physical activity was measured during 10-days of free-living using a combined heart rate sensor and accelerometer. Total (TEE), resting (REE), and physical activity (PAEE) energy expenditure were measured using doubly-labeled water and expired gas indirect calorimetry. Results Total activity (counts/day) was associated with a reduced first-phase insulin response in both pregnant (r=-0.47; 95% CI: -0.70- to -0.15) and non-pregnant women (r=-0.36; 95% CI: -0.56- to -0.12). Pregnant women were estimated to have secreted more insulin (p=0.002) and had lower fasting glucose than non-pregnant women (p<0.0001). Measures of overall physical activity intensity were similar in both groups (p=0.547), but pregnant women spent more time sedentary (p<0.0001), less time in moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity (p<0.0001), had lower objectively measured total activity, and had lower physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) than non-pregnant women (p=0.045). Conclusions Our findings suggest that physical activity conveys similar benefits on glucose homeostasis in pregnant and non-pregnant women, despite differences in subcomponents of physical activity.