Table 1 Characteristics of the articles on gestational diabetes in obese and overweight women

Kirsti Krohn Garnæs (2016) Norway [27]

Int: 46

Con: 45

31.3 ± 3.8

31.4 ± 4.7

33.9 ± 3.8

35.1 ± 4.6

NP* and MP^*

Baseline 12–18 weeks

Late pregnancy 34–37

–

Clinical trial (RCT)

Based on the IADPSG

Trondheim University Hospital

The exercise group was offered thrice weekly supervised sessions of 35 min of moderate intensity endurance exercise and 25 min of strength training Women received Standard Care Controls

–

2 (6.1)

9 (27.3)

0.1 (0.02–0.95)

0.04

Ruben Barakat (2013) Spain [28]

Int: 255

Cont:255

31 ± 3

31 ± 4

24.1 ± 4.1

23.7 ± 3.8

NP and MP

10–12 weeks

–

RCT

WHO criteria and IADPSG

Centro de Los Pedroches and Centro de Salud Leganés Norte, Leganés, Madrid

Moderate-intensity resistance and aerobic exercises (three times/week, 50–55 min/session)

Women in control group received the routine care

Apgar score 1 min

Apgar score 5 min

Birth weight (g)

Gestational age (days)

Cesarean delivery (n, %)

41 (19.5)

61 (28)

29 (13.8)

32 (14.7)

0.98 (0.40–0.62)

0.040

Based on WHO criteria

0.797

IADPSG criteria

Niamh Daly (2017) Ireland [29]

Int:44

Cont:44

30.0 ± 5.1

29.4 ± 8.4

34.7 ± 4.6

34.7 ± 5.1

NP

less Than 17 weeks

–

RCT

Based on the IADPSG

Coombe Women and Infants

University Hospital, Dublin

50–60 min of exercise: warm-up, resistance or weights, aerobic exercises, and cool-down. All women received routine prenatal care

Birth weight (g)

Gestation at birth (week)

Gestation at birth (week)

Apgar scores

25 (58.8)

21 (48.8)

P = 0.51

Oostdam (2012) Netherlands [30]

Int: 59

Cont: 62

30.8 ± 5.2

30.1 ± 5.4

33 ± 3.7

33.9 ± 5.6

NP and MP

After 20 weeks

History of macrosomia OR history of GDM; OR first-grade relative with T2D

RCT

Based on the IADPSG

VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam

The intervention group twice weekly exercises for 60 min

Training consisted of aerobic and strength exercises

Gestational age

Birthweight, g

Caesarean section, % (n)

GDM, % (n)

7 (14.6)

11 (21.6)

0.27 (1.55–0.65)

0.37

Chen Wang (2016) China [32]

Int: 133

Cont: 132

32.14 ± 4.57

32.50 ± 4.91

26.82 ± 2.76

26.75 ± 2.75

NP and MP

< 12 + 6 weeks

–

RCT

Based on the IADPSG

Peking University first hospital

The women in the intervention group performed exercises for 50 min three times a week and in a hospital under the supervision of one of the researchers until the end of the week of 37 weeks of pregnancy

Gestational age, Apgar score, birthweight, Apgar score

29 (22)

54 (40.6)

0.412 (0.240–0.705)

0.001

David Simmons (2016) New Zealand, UK, Austria, Poland, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands Australia [34]

439

Healthy eating N: 113

Physical activity N: 110

HE&PA: 108

Usual care: 105

Age total: 32.0 ± 5.4

33.7 ± 4.0

NP and MP

< 20 weeks

History of GDM

The DALI Lifestyle Study

RCT

Based on the IADPSG

Antenatal clinics a cross 11 centers in 9 European counteries

Interventions start from 20 weeks and up and continue until the 35th week. Both aerobic and resistance physical activity (frequency, intensity, time, type) based on ACOG

Birth weight, gestational age

99 (21.9)

100 (19)

1.21 (0.55–2.67)

0.05 > P

Seneviratn (2016) New Zealand [33]

Int: 37

Cont: 38

–

32.4 ± 4.6

34.5 ± 6.2

NP and MP

From 20 weeks

–

RCT

–

Home-based intervention in Auckland

In this study, individuals in the intervention group performed moderate-intensity home-based exercise programs from week 20 to 35 in moderate intensity three to five times a week, and each time for 15 to 15 min using a steady-state magnetic bicycle

Gestational age (days)

Birth weight (g)

Occipito-frontal circumference (cm)

Ponderal index (g/cm³)

BMI at birth (kg/m²)

Placental weight (g)

Apgar score

Hypoglycaemia

Respiratory distress

4 (11)

2 (5)

2.1 (0.3–12.8)

P = 0.432

Leonie, Callawa, Fracp Australia [31]

Int: 25

Cont: 25

–

–

NP and MP

12 weeks’ gestation and followed to delivery

–

Pilot randomized controlled trial

Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society criteria were used for the diagnosis and management of GDM

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital 

Exercise for the intervention group with the goal of energy consumption up to 900 kcal/week

–

3 (12)

5 (23)

0 (0)

3 (16)

0.07 12 weeks

0.57 28 weeks

0.07 12 weeks

0.57 28 weeks