Assessing physical activity and barriers before and during pregnancy: Insights from an Italian cross-sectional study

Background and aim: Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy is essential for maternal and fetal health, reducing the risk of complications such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, and excessive weight gain. Despite guidelines recommending 150 minutes of moderate-intensity PA per week, many pregnant women globally, fail to meet these recommendations. Limited studies have explored PA habits before and during pregnancy in Italy, revealing a gap in understanding PA adherence. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 390 women delivering a full-term baby at a University Hospital. Participants completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic, obstetric history, and PA habits before and during pregnancy. PA adher-ence was assessed based on duration (≥150 minutes/week) and intensity (≥3 MET). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to explore associations between PA and sociodemographic factors. Results: 52% of the sample reported performing PA during pregnancy and 50% pre-pregnancy. Only 35% maintained their activity across both periods. PA prevalence varied throughout pregnancy, peaking in the second trimester (45%). Adherence to guidelines was low, with 21% meeting the 150 min/week threshold and 22% reaching the intensity cutoff during the third trimester. Regression identified performing pre-pregnancy PA as the strongest predictor of adherence during pregnancy, while having children was the lowest. Conclusions: Our study highlights the low prevalence of PA both before and during pregnancy an Italy and identifies barriers to achieving recommended activity levels. These findings emphasize the need for targeted health strategies encouraging PA during pregnancy, a pivotal time for adopting long-term healthy behaviours that benefit both maternal and fetal health.