Funding outcome

Despite the well-established benefits of exercise during pregnancy, recent data suggest that 85% of women in Alberta fail to meet current guidelines for exercise during pregnancy. Failing to meet exercise guidelines (physical inactivity) is a known risk factor, as strong as smoking, for the future development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This elevated risk is due, at least in part, to decreased blood vessel health. Sedentary (or sitting) time is distinct from physical inactivity (which can include standing, gentle walking or other activities that minimally increase heart rate). Sedentary time is independently associated with development of CVD. It is not uncommon to be both physically active as well as sedentary (e.g., a researcher who goes to the gym multiple times a week but sits at a computer most of their working day (also see Figure 1)). Further, physical inactivity in conjunction with sedentary behaviour greatly increases the risk for future CVD. Current information suggests that pregnant women are less likely to exercise and more likely to be sedentary than their non-pregnant counterparts. The goal of this grant is to examine the impact of exercise, physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour on cardiovascular (arteries in the body) system function. This study will be the first to examine the independent impacts of these behaviours on vascular function and pregnancy outcome. These data will be an important first step towards the development of interventions and evidence-based sedentary behaviour guidelines for pregnant women.