Table 4.

The definitions and percent of the recommended level of physical activity at 17–22 and 27–30 weeks’ gestation by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the American Heart Association (AHA) and ACSM.

Definition				% Reaching Recommendation		P- value*
	Type of activity	Frequency and duration	Intensity	17–22 weeks	27–30 weeks
ACOG	Exercise†	≥5 times/wk, ≥150 minutes/wk	Moderate
			Absolute intensity (4.8–7.1 METs)‡	3.0	3.1	0.90
			Perceived intensity (somewhat hard)§	12.9	10.8	0.05
CDC/ACSM combined	Any	≥5 times/wk, ≥150 minutes/wk (moderate intensity) or ≥3 times/wk, ≥60 minutes/wk (vigorous intensity)	Moderate or vigorous
			Absolute intensity (moderate 4.8–7.1 METs; vigorous >7.1 METs)‡	15.2	11.4	<0.001
			Perceived intensity (somewhat hard or hard/very hard)§	38.0	33.7	0.005

^*P-value for the difference in prevalence between 17–22 and 27–30 weeks’ gestation (GEE model).

^†Exercise was defined as any ‘planned, structured, and repetitive movement done to improve or maintain one or more components of physical fitness’ (36) and included recreational activities such as: bicycling, aerobics, walking, pushing a stroller, water activities, and sports, but not occupational or transportation activities,

^‡Absolute intensity level was based on the metabolic cost (2,3), where age-specific MET values were used (27).

^§Perceived intensity was based on self-report of activity being fairly light, somewhat hard, or hard or very hard.