Role of exercise in reducing the risks of gestational diabetes mellitus in obese women

The World Health Organization has identified a worldwide epidemic of obesity and diabetes and designated them as leading causes for premature mortality. ¹ These conditions stem primarily from the sedentary lifestyle adopted by the contemporary society. Obesity is recognized as a chronic relapsing disease and is also a major cause for the diabetes epidemics. The benefits of adopting a healthy lifestyle in nonpregnant women, which includes weight reduction and physical activity, to prevent or manage diabetes has been well established in large clinical trials in the United States, China, and Finland. ^{2 – 4}