Pregnancy lifestyle trial found no clear improvement in glucose tolerance
Starting exercise and time-restricted eating before pregnancy did not significantly improve the main glucose measure compared with standard care.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The trial did not establish that this combined program improved glucose tolerance late in pregnancy. The estimated difference was uncertain, and the nonsignificant result does not prove that the program has no effect. Adherence to both components declined during pregnancy, which matters when interpreting what the offered program achieved.
Declining adherence limits conclusions about consistently following the program. Because exercise and eating schedules were tested together, the abstract cannot establish their separate effects.
What researchers found
Mean difference in two-hour plasma glucose
At gestational week 28, glucose averaged 0.48 mmol/L higher with the intervention than standard care. The confidence interval includes both lower and higher glucose; the result was not statistically significant (P=0.08).
What the program tested
The intervention combined exercise goals based on heart rate with a restricted daily eating window. It began before conception and continued during pregnancy, testing the combined approach in people already at increased risk.
What the outcome means
The main outcome was a glucose reading during an oral glucose tolerance test. It addresses glucose handling; the abstract does not report a comparison of gestational diabetes diagnoses between groups.
The original publication
Time restricted eating and exercise training before and during pregnancy for people with increased risk of gestational diabetes: single centre randomised controlled trial (BEFORE THE BEGINNING).
Sujan MJ, Skarstad HM, Rosvold G et al.
BMJ · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40925657
- Record checked
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