Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2026
Factors Associated With Leisure Time Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Young Women 2-7 Years After Delivery of a Pregnancy in the nuMoM2b Heart Health Study
Identify demographic, behavioral lifestyle, psychological, and clinical factors associated with suboptimal activity patterns several years after a first pregnancy and delivery.
Design
Cross-sectional, secondary analysis.
Setting and Sample
Women (n = 2843) from eight U.S. centers assessed 2-7 years after delivery in the nuMom2b Heart Health Study.
Measures
Self-reported leisure time moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were used to define patterns based on meeting recommendations for MVPA (active at ≥150 minutes/week) and leisure time SB (low SB at ≤3 hours/day). Factors (demographic, behavioral lifestyle, psychological, and clinical) assessed at study visits and hypothesized to be related to MVPA-SB patterns were included.
Analysis
Multinomial logistic regression with forward selection identified factors associated with MVPA-SB patterns.
Results
Participants most frequently reported the optimal active + low SB pattern (37.8%). Modifiable factors significantly associated with suboptimal patterns included lower diet quality (odds ratios [OR] 0.18-0.62; P < 0.001), higher body mass index (BMI) (ORs 1.15-2.49; P = 0.001), less sleep (ORs 1.27-1.46; P = 0.0013), and higher perceived stress (ORs 1.20-1.52, P = 0.0015). Lower income (ORs 0.39-0.60, P = 0.0002), lower education (ORs 0.38-0.40; P = 0.0323) and working/studying full-time (ORs 1.42-1.97, P-0.0021) were also associated with suboptimal patterns.
Conclusions
Future research designing “sit less, move more” interventions following pregnancy and delivery could consider simultaneous intervention for modifiable factors and tailored strategies for low income/education and full-time working/student women who may face additional barriers.
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