Exercising during pregnancy can protect children from obesity later in life, a study has found.
Previous studies have already demonstrated that exercise by obese women during pregnancy benefits their offspring.
But a new study has for the first time shown that the same is true when non-obese women are active during pregnancy.
Jun Seok Son, a doctoral student at Washington State University, who carried out the study, said: “Based on our findings, we recommend that women – whether or not they are obese or have diabetes – exercise regularly during pregnancy because it benefits their children’s metabolic health.
“Our data suggests that the lack of exercise in healthy women during pregnancy can predispose their children to obesity and associated metabolic diseases partially through impairing thermogenic function.”
1/11 14 January 2019
In an unusual style choice for the Duchess, who traditionally favours neutral hues, this ensemble offers a vibrant twist on the colour-blocking trend with a red Sentaler coat, matching heels and a bright purple Aritzia dress. It was a playful choice for the royal couple’s visit to Birkenhead Town Hall.
Getty Images
2/11 30 January 2019
The Duchess wore head-to-toe blush for her visit to the National Theatre, where she is now a patron. The ensemble is by US designer Brandon Maxwell but the suede shoes are Aquazurra.
Getty Images
3/11 1 February 2019
Oscar de la Renta can do no wrong when it comes to flirty patterned dresses. This theatrical bird and rose-covered number was an apt choice for the Duchess; visit to Bristol Old Vic.
AFP/Getty Images
4/11 7 February 2019
This Givenchy skirt offers some pizzazz thanks to its knee-high slit and its flattering waistline. Markle paired the look Aquazzura mules and a white collared shirt.
Getty Images
5/11 12 February 2019
Who said you couldn’t wear all-white everything? Markle paired her turtleneck Calvin Klein dress with an Amanda Wakeley coat for a gala performance at the Natural History Museum.
Getty Images
6/11 23 February 2019
The Duchess was a lady in red for her visit to Casablanca, Morocco in this bespoke Valentino midi-dress, which she paired with nude court heels and a matching clutch.
Getty Images
7/11 24 February 2019
Markle arrived at a reception hosted by the British Ambassador to Morocco in this full-coverage caped gown by Dior, which came in an opulent shade of champagne.
Getty Images
8/11 25 February 2019
This billowing Carolina Herrera dress was the perfect choice for the Duchess’ outing to brace the balmy climes of Rabat, Morocco, where she’d been visiting King Mohammed VI of Morocco with Prince Harry. This hypnotic sea blue gown was a custom-made number, obviously.
Getty Images
9/11 8 March 2019
Proving that maternity hemlines needn’t be restricted to one’s ankles, Markle stepped out in this 1960s-inspired shift dress by high street label, Reiss. Paired with a black blazer and a pair of matching Manolo Blahnik pumps, it was a classic but delightfully retro look.
AFP/Getty Images
10/11 11 March 2019
The Duchess has a penchant for rich emerald green hues, and this ensemble exemplifies just how suited the shade is to her complexion. The outfit was designed by Erdem, which was a symbolic choice given she wore the Canadian designer’s pieces to a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House in London.
Getty Images
11/11 11 March 2019
For the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, the Duchess wore a cream chain-print dress by Victoria Beckham, which made its runway debut just a few weeks ago at London Fashion Week. The look was topped off with a matching pillbox hat, emerald green stilettos and a satin clutch.
Getty Images
1/11 14 January 2019
In an unusual style choice for the Duchess, who traditionally favours neutral hues, this ensemble offers a vibrant twist on the colour-blocking trend with a red Sentaler coat, matching heels and a bright purple Aritzia dress. It was a playful choice for the royal couple’s visit to Birkenhead Town Hall.
Getty Images
2/11 30 January 2019
The Duchess wore head-to-toe blush for her visit to the National Theatre, where she is now a patron. The ensemble is by US designer Brandon Maxwell but the suede shoes are Aquazurra.
Getty Images
3/11 1 February 2019
Oscar de la Renta can do no wrong when it comes to flirty patterned dresses. This theatrical bird and rose-covered number was an apt choice for the Duchess; visit to Bristol Old Vic.
AFP/Getty Images
4/11 7 February 2019
This Givenchy skirt offers some pizzazz thanks to its knee-high slit and its flattering waistline. Markle paired the look Aquazzura mules and a white collared shirt.
Getty Images
5/11 12 February 2019
Who said you couldn’t wear all-white everything? Markle paired her turtleneck Calvin Klein dress with an Amanda Wakeley coat for a gala performance at the Natural History Museum.
Getty Images
6/11 23 February 2019
The Duchess was a lady in red for her visit to Casablanca, Morocco in this bespoke Valentino midi-dress, which she paired with nude court heels and a matching clutch.
Getty Images
7/11 24 February 2019
Markle arrived at a reception hosted by the British Ambassador to Morocco in this full-coverage caped gown by Dior, which came in an opulent shade of champagne.
Getty Images
8/11 25 February 2019
This billowing Carolina Herrera dress was the perfect choice for the Duchess’ outing to brace the balmy climes of Rabat, Morocco, where she’d been visiting King Mohammed VI of Morocco with Prince Harry. This hypnotic sea blue gown was a custom-made number, obviously.
Getty Images
9/11 8 March 2019
Proving that maternity hemlines needn’t be restricted to one’s ankles, Markle stepped out in this 1960s-inspired shift dress by high street label, Reiss. Paired with a black blazer and a pair of matching Manolo Blahnik pumps, it was a classic but delightfully retro look.
AFP/Getty Images
10/11 11 March 2019
The Duchess has a penchant for rich emerald green hues, and this ensemble exemplifies just how suited the shade is to her complexion. The outfit was designed by Erdem, which was a symbolic choice given she wore the Canadian designer’s pieces to a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House in London.
Getty Images
11/11 11 March 2019
For the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, the Duchess wore a cream chain-print dress by Victoria Beckham, which made its runway debut just a few weeks ago at London Fashion Week. The look was topped off with a matching pillbox hat, emerald green stilettos and a satin clutch.
Getty Images
The researchers examined the offspring of mice that performed 60 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every morning during pregnancy.
Offspring born to mice that didn’t exercise were used as a control group.
At weaning, the offspring of the exercising mice showed increased levels of proteins associated with brown adipose tissue compared to the control group.
This type of tissue converts fat and sugar into heat.
The researchers also observed higher body temperatures in the exercise group, indicating that their brown adipose tissue was more efficient – or had a higher thermogenic function – which has been shown to prevent obesity and metabolic problems.
After weaning, the offspring followed a high-fat diet for eight weeks.
The mice in the exercise group not only gained less weight on the high-fat diet, but also showed fewer symptoms of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and fatty liver disease.
The researchers plan to perform additional studies to better understand the biological mechanisms responsible for the improved metabolic health in offspring of mothers who exercised.
Mr Son was due to present the research during the 2019 Experimental Biology meeting in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday.
