Effect of 12 Weeks Walking On Weight Gain and Blood Pressure of Overweight Pregnant Women

Introduction: Along with lifestyle changes, weight gain in pregnant women is increasing, which can lead to the problems such as high blood pressure, preterm delivery, cesarean section, and even maternal and child death. This study was performed with aim to evaluate the effect of walking on weight gain and blood pressure in overweight pregnant women. Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial study was performed on 30 overweight pregnant women with gestational age of 20-27 weeks in Nahavand city in 2019. Participants were divided into two groups of intervention (n=15) and control (n=15). The exercise protocol of the intervention group consisted of 12 weeks of walking program with 45% to 60% of the maximum heart rate for 20 to 40 minutes. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 22) and Shapiro-Wilk, Loon and covariance analysis. P ˂ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The intervention group experienced less weight gain after 12 weeks of walking exercise than the control group (P ˂ 0.001). Walking exercise had a significant effect on systolic (P=0.015) and diastolic (P=0.015) blood pressure in pregnant women of the intervention group. Conclusion: 12 weeks of walking had a significant effect on the optimal weight gain of overweight pregnant women and maintain their blood pressure in the normal range.