Associations between the number of siblings, parent-child relationship and positive youth development of adolescents in mainland China: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Positive development plays an important role in youth when dealing with stressful circumstances. According to the resource dilution theory, adolescents with or without siblings may receive different levels of emotional and material resources from their parents. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between the positive development of adolescents in China today with their family characteristics such as the number of siblings. METHODS: A total of 2072 junior high and senior high school students (13 to 18 years old) in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, were investigated by cluster sampling. The Chinese Positive Youth Development scales (CPYDs) were used to measure positive youth development. The generalized linear model was used to explore the relationships among the number of siblings, parent-child relationships and positive youth development. RESULTS: Adolescents from only-child families had better performance on positive development (H = 21.87, P < 0.001) and better relationships with parents (H = 15.1, P < 0.05). The positive development of male and female adolescents does not significantly differ in families with different numbers of siblings. The generalized linear model showed that a positive parent-child relationship is positively correlated with adolescent positive development (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Positive youth development is not only associated with the number of siblings but also other modifiable familial factors. The positive relationship between parents and adolescents is of great practical value in daily life to improve youth development, and this might be the real lesson the resource dilution theory tells.

One-year trajectories of nutritional status in perimenopausal women: a community-based multi-centered prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional status is a modifiable factor associated with perimenopausal women's health and quality of life. Assessing body composition indicators helps to comprehensively understand nutritional status compared with using body mass index (BMI) only. However, few published studies measured the trends in body composition among perimenopausal women. OBJECTIVES: To assess the one-year trajectory of the nutritional status of perimenopausal women and to explore its influential factors. METHODS: A community-based observational study with 3-wave repeated measurements at 6-month intervals was carried out. The nutritional status indicators include weight, body mass index (BMI), and body composition variables. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to assess body composition. Repeated measures ANOVA and Chi-square test were used to calculate the changes in nutritional status and generalized estimating equations were performed to explore their influential factors. RESULTS: 2760 participants completed the study. Increasing trajectories in weight (from 56.05 ± 7.55 to 57.02 ± 7.60), fat mass (from 17.99 ± 4.80 to 20.49 ± 4.90), and waist-hip ratio (from 0.86 ± 0.04 to 0.91 ± 0.15) were found (P < 0.001). Decreasing trajectories in skeletal muscle (from 20.30 ± 2.38 to 19.19 ± 2.46), protein level (from 7.39 ± 0.79 to 7.06 ± 0.81), and total body water (from 27.87 ± 2.92 to 27.00 ± 3.01) were found (P < 0.001). Being married/unmarried with a partner and without negative life events were associated with higher total body water, skeletal muscle, and protein level, while negatively associated with fat mass and waist-hip ratio. Age was positively associated with fat mass (P < 0.001). Participants with junior high school education were prone to increased fat mass (P = 0.018) compared with those holding primary school education and below. A per capita monthly income of 1500 to 3000 Yuan was associated with higher total body water, skeletal muscle, and protein level (P < 0.001) compared with a per capita monthly income of less than 1500 Yuan. CONCLUSION: Worsening nutritional status exists in perimenopausal women, which is characterized by increased weight, fat mass, and waist-hip ratio, and decreased skeletal muscle, total body water, and protein level. For greater efficiency, precision nutritional interventions are needed, and recipients should be classified into different risk levels based on their sociodemographic background.

Effects of mHealth-Based Lifestyle Interventions on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnant Women With Overweight and Obesity: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The increasing incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a global health problem that is more likely to occur in pregnant women with overweight or obesity. Adhering to a healthy lifestyle is associated with a reduced risk of GDM. With the development of IT, mobile health (mHealth) interventions have become widely available in health care. However, there are no definitive conclusions on the effectiveness of mHealth-based lifestyle interventions in preventing GDM. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the impact of mHealth-based lifestyle interventions on GDM and other pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with overweight or obesity. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in 5 English databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and CINAHL) and 4 Chinese databases (CBM, CNKI, Vip, and Wanfang) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of mHealth-based interventions for GDM from inception to January 10, 2023. In total, 2 authors independently screened the studies and extracted the data. The quality of the included studies was examined using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Data synthesis was conducted using Review Manager (version 5.4; The Cochrane Collaboration). RESULTS: A total of 16 RCTs with 7351 participants were included in this study. The included studies were published between 2014 and 2021 and were conducted in China, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Norway. The sample sizes of the studies ranged from 75 to 2202, and the duration of the mHealth-based lifestyle interventions ranged from 4 to 28 weeks. Compared with usual care, mHealth-based lifestyle interventions significantly reduced the incidence of GDM (odds ratio [OR] 0.74, 95% CI 0.56-0.96; P=.03; I2=65%), preterm birth (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.48-0.87; P=.004; I2=25%), macrosomia (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.40-0.87; P=.008; I2=59%), and gestational weight gain (mean difference=-1.12 kg, 95% CI -1.44 to -0.80; P<.001; I2=43%). The subgroup analysis showed that interventions delivered via apps (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37-0.83; P=.004; I2=44%), provided by obstetricians (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.51-0.93; P=.02; I2=60%), and targeted at Asian populations (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.34-0.58; P<.001; I2=0%) and that used the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups diagnostic criteria (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.39-0.86; P=.007; I2=69%) showed a statistically significant reduction in the risk of GDM. CONCLUSIONS: mHealth-based lifestyle interventions had a favorable impact on the prevention of GDM in pregnant women with overweight and obesity. Future studies need to further explore the potential of mHealth-based interventions for GDM through better design and more rigorous large-scale RCTs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42021286995; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=286995.

Association between Maternal Body Composition in Second Trimester and Risk of Fetal Macrosomia: A Population-Based Retrospective Study in China.

(1) Background: Female body composition undergoes significant changes to support fetal growth and development during pregnancy. This study investigated the association of maternal body composition in the second trimester and macrosomia and explored whether body-composition-related indicators could be used to predict macrosomia. (2) Methods: This study was conducted in China from December 2016 to December 2021. Women with singleton pregnancies, gestational ages between 37 and 42 weeks, and an absence of pregnancy complications were included. In the second trimester, bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) was used to measure body-composition-related indicators. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the risk factors for macrosomia. The predictive performance of maternal body composition and clinical indicators for macrosomia were assessed using the area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve (AUC). (3) Results: This retrospective study involved 43,020 pregnant women; we collected 2008 cases of macrosomia. Gravidity, gestational age, body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), total body water, fat mass, fat-free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass, and visceral fat level were risk factors for macrosomia (p < 0.05 for all). In the prediction model, the AUC of FFM for predicting macrosomia was the largest (0.742). (4) Conclusions: Body-composition-related indicators associated with macrosomia and body composition measurements in the second trimester can predict the risk of macrosomia, enabling clinicians to implement interventions earlier to reduce adverse perinatal outcomes.

Associations between problematic internet use, life satisfaction, and deliberate self-harm among Chinese adolescents: A multi-centered longitudinal study.

INTRODUCTION: Problematic Internet use (PIU), which is associated with deliberate self-harm (DSH), has become a common problem among adolescents. Life satisfaction (LS) may be able to mitigate the negative influences of PIU and DSH. But the longitudinal associations among them are yet to be well-researched. METHODS: A longitudinal study with three-wave data collection involving 6092 adolescents was carried out in China. PIU, LS, and DSH were assessed using the Young Internet Addiction Test, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory Nine-Item Version, respectively. A cross-lagged model was used to analyze the longitudinal interactions between them. Generalized Estimating Equations were adopted to identify their influential factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of single DSH behaviors from wave 1 to wave 3 was 5.04%, 5.00%, and 4.67%, and the repeated DHS from wave 1 to wave 3 was 2.9%, 3.2%, and 3.4%, respectively. Bidirectional longitudinal predictive associations were revealed between PIU and LS (p＜0.001), and LS and DSH (p＜0.001). DSH could longitudinally predict PIU (p＜0.001). Gender and age were associated with PIU, LS, and DSH (p＜0.001), and PIU was influenced by ethnicity (p＜0.001). CONCLUSION: PIU and LS, LS and DSH were associated bidirectionally. Adolescents with more severe DSH behaviors were inclined to become addicted to the Internet, and adolescents with a history of DSH had a higher risk of recurring DSH. Parents, schools, and administrators need to improve the LS of adolescents, with a particular focus on older, female adolescents.

Associations between adolescents' empathy and prosocial attributes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a formative period of social development. Adolescents have experienced considerable changes in their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a longitudinal study to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents' prosocial attributes and empathy, as well as their longitudinal bilateral relationships. METHODS: A total of 2,510 students from five junior schools in Sichuan Province were recruited via random cluster sampling. Data were collected in December 2019 (Wave 1, before the outbreak of the pandemic) and July 2020 (Wave 2, during the pandemic) in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Prosocial attributes and empathy were measured with the Positive Youth Development Scale (GPYDS) subscale and Chinese Empathy Scale, respectively. RESULTS: During the pandemic, both empathy and prosocial attributes decreased significantly from 49.89 (9.12) and 49.89 (8.80) before to 48.29 (8.72) and 49.39 (9.26) (p < 0.001), respectively. A higher level of empathy at Wave 1 significantly predicted higher prosocial attributes at Wave 2 (ß = 0.173, SE = 0.021, t = 8.430, p < 0.001). A lower prosocial attributes score predicted a significantly lower empathy score from Wave 1 to Wave 2 (ß = 0.100, SE = 0.021, t = 4,884, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has had detrimental effects on adolescents' empathy and prosocial attributes. Special attention should be given to these two longitudinally associated factors in any social crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, considering their importance for adolescents' physical, mental, and social development.

Depressive symptoms and physical activity among community-dwelling perimenopausal women: a prospective longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Women in perimenopause are vulnerable to depressive symptoms, and physical activity was reported to be a potential protective factor. The trajectories of physical activity and depressive symptoms over time and their longitudinal relationships in Chinese perimenopausal women have not been explored yet, leaving a research gap hindering us from better understanding and managing perimenopause depressive symptoms. METHODS: A multi-center prospective longitudinal study was conducted in four cities in Sichuan Province, China. Depressive symptoms and physical activity in perimenopausal women were collected in March 2019, June 2019, September 2019, and December 2019, respectively. Multivariable linear regression by generalized estimation equation was used to identify the relevant factors associated with depressive symptoms and physical activity. A four-wave autoregressive and cross-lagged panel model was performed to explore their longitudinal relationships. RESULTS: A total of 1875 women who completed the four-wave data collection were included in the data analysis. Depressive symptoms exacerbated over time and were associated with women's age, monthly income, marital status, chronic disease, and negative life events. Physical activity decreased over time and was associated with educational background and monthly income. According to the cross-lagged panel model, perimenopausal women with more severe depressive symptoms tended to be less physically active, and similarly, perimenopausal women with less physical activity were more prone to report more severe depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: The cross-lagged panel model disclosed longitudinal bidirectional relationships between depressive symptoms and physical activity in perimenopausal women. Appropriate physical activity should be recommended for perimenopausal women to improve their mental well-being. Tailored physical activity duration and maintenance measures should be proposed based on different sociodemographic statuses.

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the elderly in southwest China: A longitudinal study based on generalized estimating equations.

The objectives of this study were to assess the trends in anxiety and depression levels in older adults nearly 10 months after the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and explore its determinants. A longitudinal study was performed between October 2019 and December 2020. The Patient Health Questionnaire 9-Item Scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale were used to assess depression and anxiety. Data were collected before (wave 1), during (wave 2), and 10 months after the COVID-19 outbreak (wave 3). The prevalence of depressive symptoms in the elderly was found to be 18.9%, 28.1%, and 35.9% at wave 1, wave 2, and wave 3 respectively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms at wave 1 was lower than that at wave 2 (χ 2  = 15.544, P < 0.001) and wave 3 (χ 2 = 44.878, P < 0.001). There was no significant change in the prevalence of anxious symptoms (wave 1, 28.5%, wave 2, 30.3%, and wave 3, 30.3%). Older adults who were single/divorced/widowed had higher levels of anxiety compared with those who were married (OR = 2.306 95%CI 1.358-3.914, P = 0.002). The pandemic appeared to be associated with increases in depressive symptoms in older persons. Targeted interventions could be carried out among those with higher risk of maladjustment.

Longitudinal associations between sleep quality and menopausal symptoms among community-dwelling climacteric women: A multi-centered study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Menopausal symptoms exist in most climacteric women, which can harm the quality and satisfaction of life for them. Moreover, a series of ineluctable negative life changes experienced in middle-age usually make the situation more complicated and stressful. We aimed to determine the trajectories and influential factors of sleep quality and menopausal symptoms and their longitudinal interrelationships among climacteric women. METHODS: A total of 1875 community-dwelling climacteric women were included in this study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) were adopted to assess sleep quality and menopausal symptoms, respectively. Data were collected 4 times from March 2019 to December 2019, at a 3-month interval. RESULTS: The Cross-lagged analysis showed that worse sleep quality and more severe menopausal symptoms over time after controlling for specified covariates, and more severe menopausal symptoms were predicted by declined sleep quality. The Generalized estimation equation model showed that education level, marital status, chronic diseases, life events, income, and age were the influential factors of sleep quality, while menopausal symptoms were impacted by marital status and income. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing negative sleep quality and more severe menopausal symptoms over time contribute to the health burden of climacteric women. Menopausal symptoms could be alleviated by sleep quality improvement, which is influenced by education level, marital status, chronic diseases, life events, age, and economic factors.

Influences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Obesity and Weight-Related Behaviors among Chinese Children: A Multi-Center Longitudinal Study.

COVID-19-related lockdown measures have been affecting children's weight status and weight-related behaviors, which are often associated with an increase in childhood obesity. However, large-scale longitudinal studies are lacking. Our study aimed to analyze changes in obesity and weight-related behaviors in Chinese children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide references for addressing the high prevalence of childhood obesity. A prospective multi-center longitudinal survey was conducted among Chinese children (n = 5963), collecting data on weight status, COVID-19-related measures, and lifestyle behaviors. Changes were assessed using t-tests and χ2 tests for paired samples, or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, according to the type and distribution of data. The Generalized Estimating Equations model was used to explore influential factors of obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 9.2% and 8.6% before the pandemic to 10.5% and 10.6% during the pandemic (p < 0.001), respectively. Daily physical activity, sleep duration, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption decreased while screen time increased. The results of the generalized estimating equations showed that ethnic minority, older age, less daily physical activity, reduced sleep duration, and longer screen time were positively associated with obesity. There is an intensifying trend of obesity in children in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, to which altered weight-related behaviors might have contributed largely. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, especially in social crises, should be highlighted to ease the burden of childhood obesity.

Finger exercise alleviates mild cognitive impairment of older persons: A community-based randomized trial.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is common in the older population, with a lifetime progression rate into dementia of 60% to 65%, which has highlighted the importance and realistic value of management of MCI in the context of global aging. We conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 232 participants (117 in the intervention group, 115 in the control group) to determine the effect of finger exercise on the cognitive function of community-dwelling older persons with MCI. The Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) was used to measure cognitive function at baseline and the end of the study. After controlling for sociodemographic variables, the effect of finger exercise on MCI was assured and with a large effect size [F(1,21) = 106.351, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.325]. Finger exercise could serve as an economic and convenient alternative to the early-stage management of MCI, while more research is in need to further support this finding.

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Resilience Among Chinese Adolescents and Its Influential Factors: A Longitudinal Study.

The current study assessed the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on resilience among Chinese adolescents and explored its influential factors. A total of 2,359 students were recruited from three middle schools through cluster randomization in Chengdu. Data were collected before and after home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Resilience, family function, and effect of the pandemic were measured using subscales of the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale, Chinese Family Assessment Instrument, and Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale. Paired samples t test showed resilience decreased significantly after confinement. According to stepwise multiple linear regression, basal resilience, family dysfunction, higher frequencies of hyperarousal symptoms of posttraumatic stress, increased electronic device use, and relationship with caregivers were independent influential factors of resilience. COVID-19 negatively affected adolescents' resilience; therefore, stakeholders need to focus on improving resilience in this population to mitigate mental health impacts of acute stressful events. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(12), 31-37.].

Comparison of the effects of Tai Chi and general aerobic exercise on weight, blood pressure and glycemic control among older persons with depressive symptoms: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Blood pressure and glycemic control are associated with the management of depressive symptoms in patients with depression. Previous studies have demonstrated that both Tai Chi and aerobic exercise have positive effects on blood pressure and glycemic control. Few studies have compared the physiological effects of Tai Chi versus aerobic exercise in older adults with depressive symptoms. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of Tai Chi and aerobic exercise on weight, body mass index, blood pressure and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level in older persons with mild to moderate-severe depressive symptoms. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was performed. The older persons (age ≥ 60 years old) with depressive symptoms were recruited. Then, participants were randomly allocated to the Tai Chi group and the aerobic exercise group received a 12-week 24-movement Yang's Tai Chi intervention and aerobic exercise, respectively. Data collection occurred at baseline and after completion of the interventions (week 12). RESULTS: A total of 238 participants with mild to moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were included in the final analysis, including 120 in the Tai Chi group and 118 in the aerobic exercise group. The difference in weight and body mass index in the Tai Chi group was 2.0 kg (Z = -4.930, P < 0.001) and 0.77 kg/m2 (Z = -5.046, P < 0.001) higher than that in the aerobic exercise group, respectively. After the 12-week intervention, the systolic pressure and diastolic pressure in the Tai Chi group were 5.50 mmHg (Z = -2.282, P = 0.022) and 8.0 mmHg (Z = -3.360, P = 0.001) lower than that in the aerobic exercise group, respectively. The difference in HbA1c level in the Tai Chi group was 0.50% higher than that in the aerobic exercise group (Z = -4.446, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study showed that Tai Chi exercise was more effective in improving blood pressure and HbA1c level than general aerobic exercise. It suggested that Tai Chi might be an effective approach for the management of blood pressure and long-term glucose control in older persons with depressive symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR2100042534 . Registration date: 23/01/2021, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=120602 .

Tai chi improves depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older persons by mediating BDNF methylation: A preliminary study.

Tai Chi could alleviate depression, while the biological mechanisms underlying this effect remains unelucidated. This study recruited 18 community-dwelling older persons with a pre-post testing design, aiming to unveil the potential epigenetic effect by which Tai Chi in the alleviation of depression, using methylation of BDNF promoter as the biomarker. The methylation levels (determined by pyrosequencing using saliva samples) of the targeted BDNF sequence were positively associated with the existence and severity of depressive symptoms (measured with the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire). Both methylation levels and depression decreased significantly after the Tai Chi intervention. Demethylation of BDNF promoter might be one of the potential mechanisms underlying the holistic depression alleviating effect of Tai Chi. BDNF methylation may potentially serve as a screening, diagnostic as well as disease activity biomarker to determine treatment effects for depression. Further adequately powered studies are needed to verify and strengthen our findings.

Physical activity and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults in the COVID-19 pandemic era: A three-wave cross-lagged study.

The aim of the study is to determine the trajectories of physical activity and depressive symptoms and their reciprocal relationship among community-dwelling older adults in the COVID-19 pandemic era. The study population consisted of a cohort of 511 participants aged 60 years and over, who were recruited from eight community health centers in Ya'an, China. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly and the Patient Health Questionnaire were respectively used to measure physical activity and depressive symptoms at three time points: before the COVID-19 outbreak (T0), during the outbreak period (T1), and after the subsidence of COVID-19 (T2). The results revealed that physical activity and depressive symptoms fluctuated substantially across T0, T1, and T2. In addition, more severe depressive symptoms at T0 and T1 were significantly associated with lower levels of physical activity at T1 and T2, but the obverse direction of physical activity being associated with subsequent depressive symptoms was not observed in the current study. These findings highlight the importance of supporting old people to remain physically active and combat mental distress early in a pandemic, and prevention and management of depressive symptoms may also be beneficial to promote physical activity.

Bilateral associations between sleep duration and depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders and the leading cause of disability among adolescents, with sleep duration as its vital influential factor. Adolescents might be mentally sensitive to the stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the alteration of adolescents' sleep duration, depression, and their associations within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been well documented. We conducted a longitudinal study, recruiting 2496 adolescents from 3 junior high schools to examine the alteration of their sleep duration and depressive symptoms before and during the pandemic, and to explore their potential association(s). Data were collected before (December 2019) and during the pandemic (July 2020). Paired samples t-test revealed a significant decrease in sleep duration and a significant increase in depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher grades, COVID-19 infection history, higher CES-DC score, and the COVID-19 pandemic itself might contribute to decreased sleep duration, while longer exercise duration during the pandemic might be a protective factor. According to the cross-lagged analysis, the existence of depressive symptoms before the pandemic was significantly associated with a shorter sleep duration during the pandemic (ß = -0.106, p < 0.001). Previously shortened sleep duration was significantly associated with a greater likelihood of depressive symptoms during the pandemic (ß = -0.082, p < 0.001). Our findings revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has a negative influence on adolescents' mental health and sleep. Mental preparedness should be highlighted to mitigate the psychosocial influences of any possible public emergencies in the future. Sleep duration represents a viable home-based intervention for depressive symptoms.

The effect of a personalized intervention on weight gain and physical activity among pregnant women in China.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether personalized interventions could improve dietary intake and physical activity among pregnant women. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a center in Chengdu, China, between September 2012 and February 2013. Women with a singleton pregnancy (aged ≥18years, could understand written Chinese, did not have pre-existing diabetes) were enrolled at approximately 12weeks of pregnancy. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to an intervention group (received personalized educational materials) or a control group (conventional interventions only). Data for dietary intake and physical activity were recorded via questionnaires. Only pregnant women who completed the study were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Analyses included 106 women in the control group and 115 in the intervention group. After intervention, the intake of energy, protein, fruit, milk, seafood, and nuts differed significantly between groups (P<0.05), with intakes closer to the recommended amounts in the intervention group. Women in the intervention group spent significantly less time resting (P=0.033) and more time doing mild activity (P=0.016). Mean weight gain per week was significantly lower in the intervention group (P=0.023), and significantly fewer women in this group developed gestational diabetes (P=0.043). CONCLUSION: Personalized educational interventions can improve dietary behavior and physical activity levels, and reduce prevalence of gestational diabetes among pregnant women in China. Chinese Clinical Trial Register: ChiCTR-IPR-15005809.

Physical activity during pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of physical activity in preventing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the literature in six electronic databases and bibliographies of relevant articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials on pregnant women who did not have GDM and other complications previously and had increased physical activity as the only intervention. The risk of developing GDM was documented separately for the intervention and control groups. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers extracted data and assessed quality independently. Data from the included trials were combined using a fixed-effects model. The effect size was expressed as relative risk (RR) and 95% CI. MAIN RESULTS: Of the 1110 studies identified, six randomised controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. In three trials, the incidence of GDM was lower in the intervention group than in the control group, whereas two trials showed a higher incidence of GDM in the intervention group and the remaining trial found no GDM in either the intervention or control group. The meta-analysis resulted in a relative risk (RR) of GDM of 0.91 (95% CI 0.57 to 1.44), suggesting no significant difference in the risk of developing GDM between the intervention and the control groups. No indication of publication bias was found. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence was insufficient to suggest that physical activity during pregnancy might be effective to lower the risk of developing GDM.