Human study · Exercise · 5 Nov 2026
In 76 pregnant women, physical activity did not differ by trimester
Source: Health Care for Women International
What the research found
Health Care for Women International published a cross-sectional study on 5 November 2026. Balkisli, Aloglu Ciftci, and Atici at Istanbul Okan University included 76 pregnant women across all three trimesters. They used the Body Awareness Questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Pregnancy Symptom Inventory, and the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. In the first trimester, a higher body mass index lined up with lower body awareness (r = −0.513, p = 0.035), and symptom frequency lined up with lower self-esteem (r = 0.533, p = 0.028). In the second trimester, symptom frequency lined up with higher body awareness (r = 0.474, p = 0.012). Physical activity, body awareness, self-esteem, and symptom severity did not differ by trimester (p > 0.05). The paper does not report the women's ages. This is a one-time questionnaire comparison, not a trial of an activity program. DOI 10.1080/07399332.2026.2748565. Not medical advice.
Evidence level: Human study. A study in people, but an association isn't proof of cause.
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