Maternal Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity across Pregnancy and Early Childhood Motor Development

Maternal voluntary physical exercise in the adult rat: evidence of exercise-associated differences in maternal food intake, and in brain effects on the progeny

Objectives: Maternal physical activity may impact behavioral and electrophysiological aspects of brain function, with short- and long-term effects on pre- and postnatal neurodevelopment of the offspring. This study evaluated in the rat the effects of maternal voluntary physical activity (MVPA) on food intake and weight gain in the dams, as well as anxiety-like behavior, short-term memory and the brain excitability-related phenomenon known as cortical spreading depression (CSD) on the mother-pup dyad.Methods: Female Wistar rats (n=33) were individually housed in cages containing a running wheel for a 30-days adaptation period before mating. Rats were classified as inactive (I); active (A) or very active (VA) according to the distance spontaneously travelled daily. During gestation, the dams continued to have access to the running wheel. Mothers and their respective pups (1 pup per mother) were evaluated in the open field test (OFT), object recognition test (ORT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT) and the CSD propagation features.Results: MVPA was directly associated with increased food intake and weight gain during gestation, and maternal anxiolytic-like behavioral responses in the OFT. Pups from VA mothers showed a high discrimination index for shape recognition memory (ORT) and decreased propagation velocities of CSD, when compared with the inactive group.Discussion: The data suggest that MVPA during the gestational period induces neuroplasticity and may modulate the brain functions in the mother-infant dyad in the rat.

Association between maternal and infant screen time with child growth and development: A longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Sedentary screen time is an early, modifiable risk factor for obesity and poor child development.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the relationship between maternal and infant screen time with child growth and development.

METHODS

Pregnant women were recruited for a cohort study related to maternal and infant development. Screen time was assessed in mothers during pregnancy, and subsequently in children at 3 months, 12 months, and 24 months of age. Child anthropometry was measured, and nuclear magnetic resonance quantified child fat mass. Fat mass index (FMI) was calculated. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III were used to assess child development. Linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between screen time and child growth and development, adjusted for covariates and stratified by sex.

RESULTS

Mother/child dyads (n = 89) were mainly white (92.1%), and half were boys (52%). Both sexes increased screen time between 12 months and 24 months (ps <0.05). Child screen time was positively associated with FMI and negatively associated with development scores. In adjusted models, screen time was positively associated with FMI in boys, and meeting the screen time guideline was associated with lower FMI in girls.

CONCLUSION

Greater infant screen time was related to higher adiposity. Though few relationships emerged, a cautionary approach to screen time early in life may benefit child health.