Physical inactivity during pregnancy has been shown to be linked to an
increased risk of complications. However, during pregnancy, doubts arise about what type, intensity
and frequency of physical activity are most recommended. Objective: Our main objective was to
know the level of physical activity (PA) and sedentary lifestyle in a representative sample of pregnant
women in Málaga, one of the most populated cities in Spain. Also, we aimed to find out the effects of
PA on obstetric and perinatal outcomes and on the mental health of pregnant women, differentiated
according to PA intensity and domain. Methods: Five hundred and forty full-term pregnant women
who had their obstetric checks in the maternity ward of the Regional University Hospital of Málaga
were recruited through consecutive sampling. Participants answered a questionnaire that included
the WHO Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS), the
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and some other sociodemographic and health-related
questions. Subsequently, information about perinatal outcomes was obtained after birth. Results:
Only 50.8% of women followed the WHO recommendations on activity. We found a high proportion
of obese pregnant women and a direct effect of a sedentary lifestyle on the rate of cesarean sections
and vulvovaginal tears in spontaneous births, as well as on the mental health of future mothers.
Women’s age, the number of children, BMI at the beginning of pregnancy and leisure time physical
activity (LTPA) explained anxiety scores, and age, LTPA, BMI at the end of pregnancy and intense
work-related physical activity (WTPA) predicted depression scores. Conclusions: LTPA improves
obstetric outcomes, helping to reduce the rate of cesarean sections and vulvovaginal tears, as well as
reducing prenatal anxiety and depression.
