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Movement during pregnancy may influence foetal development / photo:www.shutterstock.com
Researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, US, have discovered that female mice which voluntarily exercise during pregnancy have offspring that are more physically active as adults. The research was published in the March edition of The FASEB Journal*.
The senior author of the work, Dr Robert A Waterland – associate professor of paediatrics-nutrition and of molecular and human genetics at the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, at Baylor and Texas Children’s Hospital – noted that although their research studied mice, “several human studies have reported results consistent with ours”.
Indeed, observational studies have found that women who are physically active while pregnant have children who tend to be more physically active. However, it hasn’t been firmly established whether these results can be attributed to the mothers’ influence on the children after they were born, or if mothers can pass a genetic predisposition to be physically active on to their offspring.
“Our study in a mouse model is important because we can take all those effects out of the equation,” said Waterland. “We studied genetically identical mice and carefully controlled the amount of physical activity among the mothers before pregnancy.”
Run with the idea The Baylor team selected female mice which all enjoyed running, then divided them into two groups. One was allowed access to running wheels before and during pregnancy, and the other was not.
During early pregnancy, the females with the running wheels ran an average of 10km every night. They ran less as the pregnancy progressed, but even by the beginning of their third trimester they were still running (or walking) for around 3km each night.
Influence in the womb The mice born to mothers which exercised during pregnancy were about 50 per cent more physically active than those born to mothers which did not exercise.
Importantly, their increased levels of activity continued into later adulthood, and was even found to improve their ability to lose fat during a three-week voluntary exercise programme.
The study supports the idea that movement during pregnancy influences foetal brain development, ensuring that the offspring tend to be more physically active throughout life.
“Although most people assume that an individual’s tendency to be physically active is determined by genetics, our results clearly show that the environment can play an important role during foetal development,” Waterland said.
If a similar effect can be confirmed in people, it could potentially lead to an effective strategy to counteract the current worldwide epidemic of physical inactivity and obesity.
“I think our results offer a very positive message,” said Waterland. “If expectant mothers know that exercise is not only good for them, but may also offer lifelong benefits for their babies, I think they will be more motivated to get moving.”
*Waterland, RA et al. Maternal exercise during pregnancy promotes physical activity in adult offspring. The FASEB Journal. March 2016
Movement during pregnancy may influence foetal development / photo:www.shutterstock.com
Researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, US, have discovered that female mice which voluntarily exercise during pregnancy have offspring that are more physically active as adults. The research was published in the March edition of The FASEB Journal*.
The senior author of the work, Dr Robert A Waterland – associate professor of paediatrics-nutrition and of molecular and human genetics at the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, at Baylor and Texas Children’s Hospital – noted that although their research studied mice, “several human studies have reported results consistent with ours”.
Indeed, observational studies have found that women who are physically active while pregnant have children who tend to be more physically active. However, it hasn’t been firmly established whether these results can be attributed to the mothers’ influence on the children after they were born, or if mothers can pass a genetic predisposition to be physically active on to their offspring.
“Our study in a mouse model is important because we can take all those effects out of the equation,” said Waterland. “We studied genetically identical mice and carefully controlled the amount of physical activity among the mothers before pregnancy.”
Run with the idea The Baylor team selected female mice which all enjoyed running, then divided them into two groups. One was allowed access to running wheels before and during pregnancy, and the other was not.
During early pregnancy, the females with the running wheels ran an average of 10km every night. They ran less as the pregnancy progressed, but even by the beginning of their third trimester they were still running (or walking) for around 3km each night.
Influence in the womb The mice born to mothers which exercised during pregnancy were about 50 per cent more physically active than those born to mothers which did not exercise.
Importantly, their increased levels of activity continued into later adulthood, and was even found to improve their ability to lose fat during a three-week voluntary exercise programme.
The study supports the idea that movement during pregnancy influences foetal brain development, ensuring that the offspring tend to be more physically active throughout life.
“Although most people assume that an individual’s tendency to be physically active is determined by genetics, our results clearly show that the environment can play an important role during foetal development,” Waterland said.
If a similar effect can be confirmed in people, it could potentially lead to an effective strategy to counteract the current worldwide epidemic of physical inactivity and obesity.
“I think our results offer a very positive message,” said Waterland. “If expectant mothers know that exercise is not only good for them, but may also offer lifelong benefits for their babies, I think they will be more motivated to get moving.”
*Waterland, RA et al. Maternal exercise during pregnancy promotes physical activity in adult offspring. The FASEB Journal. March 2016
The Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care (SATCC) charity has announced its first five-
day Living with Cancer and Beyond retreat, which will be held at Carden Park Hotel and Spa in
Cheshire, UK, between 1 and 5 September.
Patmos Aktis, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, has opened in Greece, with a renovated and
rebranded wellness offering called Ansana Wellness and Spa.
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an Autograph Collection property in Hawaii, US, has opened its
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The UK spa review and discovery platform for consumers, the Good Spa Guide, has announced
it will host the Good Spa Guide Awards 2026 during an event on 16 November at Sopwell House
Hotel in St Albans, UK.
Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, with this
percentage increasing year on year, according to a preview presentation of McKinsey’s Future of
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Mass protests have been taking place since Monday 1 June in Albania over the development of
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Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
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Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
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As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
