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Heat production during exercise in pregnancy: discerning the contribution of total body weight

  • Integrative Physiology
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Abstract

Studies have reported enhanced thermoregulatory function as pregnancy progresses; however, it is unclear if differences in thermoregulation are attributed to weight gain or other physiological changes. This study aimed to determine if total body weight will influence thermoregulation (heat production (Hprod)), heart rate, and perceptual measurements in response to weight-bearing exercise during early to late pregnancy. A cross-sectional design of healthy pregnant women at different pregnancy time points (early, T1; middle, T2; late, T3) performed a 7-stage weight-bearing incremental exercise protocol. Measurements of Hprod, HR, and RPE were examined. Two experimental groups were studied: (1) weight matched and (2) non-weight matched, in T1, T2, and T3. During exercise, equivalent Hprod at T1 (326 ± 88 kJ), T2 (330 ± 43 kJ), and T3 (352 ± 52 kJ) (p = 0.504); HR (p = 0.830); and RPE (p = 0.195) were observed in the WM group at each time point. In the NWM group, Hprod (from stages 1–6 of the exercise) increased across pregnancy time points, T1 (291 ± 76 kJ) to T2 (347 ± 41 kJ) and T3 (385 ± 47 kJ) (p < 0.001). HR increased from T1 to T3 in the warm-up to stage 6 (p = 0.009). RPE did not change as pregnancy time point progressed (p = 0.309). Total body weight, irrespective of pregnancy time point, modulates Hprod and HR during exercise. Therefore, accounting for total body weight is crucial when comparing thermoregulatory function during exercise across pregnancy.

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Data can be provided upon request to the corresponding author.

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Funding

The PLACENTA study is funded by a CIHR Operating Grant (MOP-142298) awarded to K. B. A.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Lees Campus, 518E, 200 Lees Ave, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada

    Nicholas O’Rourke, Sheila Dervis, François Haman & Kristi Bree Adamo

  2. Sports Studies Department, Faculty of Arts and Science, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    Danilo F. da Silva

  3. Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Venlo, Netherlands

    Carla Geurts

Authors
  1. Nicholas O’Rourke
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  2. Sheila Dervis
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  3. Danilo F. da Silva
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  4. Carla Geurts
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  5. François Haman
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  6. Kristi Bree Adamo
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Contributions

N.O: Investigation; Writing - Original Draft and Review/Editing; Visualization. S.D: Investigation; Writing - Review/Editing C.G: Methodology; Writing - Review/Editing; Supervision F.H: Conceptualization; Methodology; Resources; Writing - Review/Editing; Supervision K.A: Conceptualization; Methodology; Resources; Writing - Original, Review/Editing; Supervision; Project Administration; Funding Acquisition.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristi Bree Adamo.

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Ethics approval

This study examined women participating in the CIHR-funded PhysicaL Activity and dietary implications Throughout pregnancy (PLACENTA) study (MOP-142298) and my NSERC, Ill get you the info. The PLACENTA protocol was approved by numerous research ethics boards across Ottawa: University of Ottawa (#H11-15–29), Ottawa Health Sciences Network (REB# 20160178-01H), Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (REB# 16/68X), Queensway Carleton Hospital (File# 17–03), and Hôpital Montfort (#LG-01–06-16). The study was performed following the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants provided written informed consent before participation.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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O’Rourke, N., Dervis, S., da Silva, D.F. et al. Heat production during exercise in pregnancy: discerning the contribution of total body weight. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 476, 769–778 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-024-02929-w

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