ByAlyce Collins
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A new clinical trial suggests that strength training during pregnancy could reduce the risk of gestational diabetes in women who are overweight or obese, while also improving overall quality of life
Researchers in Spain, led by Dr. Teresa E. Santa Cruz, followed 209 pregnant women with a body mass index of 25 or higher to study whether a structured strength-training program could help prevent gestational diabetes mellitus, a condition that affects blood sugar during pregnancy and can increase the risk of complications for both mother and baby
Participants were randomly assigned to either a strength-training program or standard prenatal care. Women in the exercise group began training between 12 and 14 weeks gestation and continued until around 36 weeks. The training program combined one supervised session with additional at-home workouts each week
While the results, published in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, do not definitively prove that strength training prevents gestational diabetes, the results point to a potentially beneficial effect.Dr. Robert Thompson, a board-certified physician executive, told Newsweek that the study “offers promise” when it comes to the metabolic benefits of resistance training while pregnant
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Among women in the exercise group, 2 percent developed gestational diabetes, compared with over 7 percent in the control group. The findings were even more striking among women who closely followed the exercise program (with adherence defined as completing at least two exercise sessions per week). Indeed, none of the women in this sub-category developed gestational diabetes
Thompson, medical contributor of Care Point Boston, believes that while these findings are undoubtedly positive, the sample size means they can only be interpreted on a preliminary basis
He said: “As pregnancy progresses, there will typically be rising levels of insulin resistance from natural increases in placenta produced hormones. Skeletal muscle is a major site for glucose disposal in the body, thus strength training could enhance insulin sensitivity by repeatedly challenging these muscles.”
The study’s lead authors noted that the trend toward lower rates of gestational diabetes and related complications suggests strength training may have a preventive effect, but larger studies will be needed to confirm the results
Researchers also found a lower incidence of hydramnios, an excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid that can increase the risk of pregnancy complications. No cases were recorded among women in the exercise group, compared with four cases in the control group
Yet, the most significant improvements were seen in participants’ day-to-day wellbeing
Women who took part in the strength-training program reported substantially higher quality-of-life scores by the end of pregnancy. They also experienced fewer symptoms and less disruption to daily life from common pregnancy complaints. That was particularly noticeable in symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, low mood, digestive discomfort, lower back pain and pelvic pain
Pregnancy can be physically and emotionally demanding, especially for women who are considered overweight or obese who are at greater risk of health complications. With that in mind, these findings suggest that regular strength training could help alle
Indeed, Thompson notes that strength training does not necessarily have to be done at a high intensity in order to be beneficial. Controlled exercises using one’s body weight, free weights or resistance bands can still maintain muscle, joint mobility and glucose regulation, he told Newsweek
“The primary objective of physical activity during pregnancy is to maintain safe levels of muscular strength and endurance,” Thompson said. “Pregnancy progression dictates appropriate adjustment to exercise intensity. Women concerned about overexertion should monitor for signs such as persistent fatigue, unresolved pain, dizziness, uterine contractions, vaginal spotting/bleeding, fluid leaking, chest discomfort or shortness of breath.”
Gestational diabetes is one of the most common pregnancy complications, affecting between five and nine percent of pregnancies in the U.S. each year, according to the CDC. The condition is associated with higher risks of preeclampsia, preterm birth, delivery complications and future type 2 diabetes in both mothers and their children. Risk factors include previous history of the condition, weight, family history of type 2 diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome
Although the latest trial stops short of proving that strength training can prevent gestational diabetes, researchers conclude that it offers benefits to quality of life and may help lower the risk of the condition
Importantly, the exercise program appeared safe for all participants. The study found no increase in adverse outcomes (such as miscarriage, preterm birth or fetal growth problems) among women who did strength training throughout pregnancy
The authors did however caution that only around half of participants met the program’s adherence target, highlighting that additional rento routine prenatal care. They recommend that larger trials are now needed to determine whether the trends observed in this study translate into a clear reduction in gestational diabetes and other pregnancy-related complications
References
Santa Cruz, T. E., Sarasqueta, C., Muruzábal, J. C., Sanz, O., et al. (2026). Strength training during pregnancy for the prevention of gestational diabetes: A randomized trial in women with overweight or obesity. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.70336
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Charlotte Nisbet and Emma Lee-Sang
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