More sedentary behavior and lower physical activity levels in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract This Swedish cohort study performed 2016‒2022 aimed to evaluate activity patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among 1405 pregnant women. Sedentary behavior and physical activity levels were objectively measured during seven consecutive days by an accelerometer in early to mid-pregnancy. Linear regression models adjusted for age, parity, BMI, smoking, country of birth, and timing of measurements were used. A subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate whether activity patterns returned to pre-pandemic levels during year 2022. Compared with before COVID-19, daily sedentary behavior increased by 6.6% points (β 6.6, CI 5.4, 7.8), and daily physical activity levels decreased by 6.7% points (β − 6.7, CI − 7.8, − 5.7) during the pandemic. In 2022, daily sedentary behavior was still increased by 7.2% points (β 7.2, CI 5.3, 9.2), and daily physical activity levels decreased by 7.3% points (β − 7.3, CI − 9.1, − 5.5), compared with before COVID-19. Hence, there was a modest increase in sedentary behavior and a small decrease in physical activity after the pandemic outbreak, and these changes were still present during 2022. It is important that health providers are aware of the potential negative changes in activity patterns among pregnant women following a pandemic or a similar situation.