Last updated May 6, 2026
Key finding
In overweight or obese pregnant women, supervised exercise did not reduce gestational weight gain, but it may have lowered gestational diabetes incidence and late-pregnancy systolic blood pressure.
This trial tested supervised prenatal exercise in overweight or obese pregnant women. The program did not reduce pregnancy weight gain overall, but fewer women developed gestational diabetes and systolic blood pressure was lower late in pregnancy. Because the study recruited fewer women than planned and adherence was modest, these benefits should be viewed cautiously.
Quick read
The essential study design details in one scan.
EvidenceScore™
Low
Study type
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Follow-up
Medium-Term (3–12 mo)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
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Plain-language summary
A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.
Study focus
In overweight or obese pregnant women, supervised exercise did not reduce gestational weight gain, but it may have lowered gestational diabetes incidence and late-pregnancy systolic blood pressure.
Published in
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Garnæs KK, Mørkved S, Salvesen Ø, Moholdt T. Exercise Training and Weight Gain in Obese Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial (ETIP Trial). PLoS Med. 2016;13(7):e1002079. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002079
Gestational weight gain ↔ no clear difference between groups
Gestational diabetes incidence ↓ in the exercise group
Systolic blood pressure ↓ in late pregnancy with exercise
Evidence network
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This study contributes evidence to Exercise therapy and Diastolic blood pressure, Gestational diabetes mellitus incidence, Gestational weight gain, and 1 more.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
Exercise therapy
Primary outcomes
Evidence topics
Primary intervention
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
Editorial context
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Evidence network role
This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.
1
Related topics
4
Evidence pairs
149
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Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
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Primary evidence
Evidence topic
matched_intervention_and_outcome
Core evidence
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
Exercise therapy → Diastolic blood pressure
Exercise therapy → Diastolic blood pressure
Exercise therapy → Gestational diabetes mellitus incidence
Exercise therapy → Gestational diabetes mellitus incidence
Exercise therapy → Gestational weight gain
Exercise therapy → Gestational weight gain
Exercise therapy → Systolic blood pressure
Exercise therapy → Systolic blood pressure
Evidence Library
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This study applies most directly to pregnant women with prepregnancy overweight or obesity receiving routine maternity care. It is most relevant to women starting pregnancy without known gestational diabetes but at elevated metabolic risk.
The strongest conclusion from this trial is that supervised exercise did not clearly reduce gestational weight gain. The more encouraging findings involved secondary outcomes, especially gestational diabetes incidence and systolic blood pressure. Because the trial was smaller than planned and adherence was only moderate, those benefits may be real but remain less certain than they would be in a larger, better-powered study.
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Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.
This study contributes to evidence on Exercise therapy and Blood Pressure, Exercise therapy and Blood Pressure.
This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Physical Activity
Physical Activity
Physical Activity
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
All studies measuring Blood Pressure
Measures Blood Pressure as a key outcome.
All studies on Exercise therapy
Contributes to Exercise therapy evidence base.
All studies measuring Diabetes Incidence and Prevention
Measures Diabetes Incidence and Prevention as a key outcome.
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2 results
2 results
2 results
2 results
2 results
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
Exercise therapy may improve Systolic blood pressure.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
Systolic blood pressure
EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of Exercise therapy for Diastolic blood pressure.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are mixed and should be interpreted cautiously.
Ranked evidence signals
Diastolic blood pressure
EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Mixed | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is cautious because the available studies report mixed findings.
Limitations
Exercise therapy may improve Gestational diabetes mellitus incidence.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Gestational diabetes mellitus incidence
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | weak positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Exercise therapy may improve Gestational weight gain.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Gestational weight gain
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | weak positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
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