Research suggests maternal exercise may reduce asthma risk in children from Finland

Research from the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital, and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare indicates that maternal exercise during pregnancy may protect children from asthma. The study found that if mothers engage in active exercise at least three times a week during pregnancy, the risk of their child developing asthma could be nearly halved.

The research followed nearly 1,000 mother-child pairs over a span of seven years. The findings suggest that the link between maternal exercise and reduced asthma risk in children remains significant even after accounting for other factors related to the mother’s health, lifestyle, and environment.

While it is known that maternal physical activity influences fetal movements and breathing patterns that support lung development, the exact mechanisms behind this protective effect are still unclear. Pirkka Kirjavainen, the leading researcher of the study, emphasizes that moderate exercise during pregnancy plays a crucial role in reducing the child’s asthma risk, potentially being as effective as parents quitting smoking.

The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women engage in about 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise each week.