A randomized clinical trial published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica examined whether a structured strength training program could reduce gestational diabetes in pregnant women with overweight or obesity. The study enrolled 209 participants who were assigned to either a supervised strength training regimen or standard prenatal care.
Women in the intervention group began training at 12 to 14 weeks of gestation and continued until week 36 or delivery. Sessions were supervised and designed to be safe during pregnancy.
Among participants who adhered to the program, the incidence of gestational diabetes was 0%, versus 7.3% in the control group. No cases of large-for-gestational-age birth weight occurred in the training group, compared with 6.3% in controls.
The strength training group also reported significant improvements in quality-of-life scores and a lower frequency and impact of common pregnancy symptoms. No differences were observed in adverse events, including preterm birth rates, between the two groups.
Corresponding author Teresa E. Santa Cruz, MD, of Hospital Universitario Donostia in San Sebastián, Spain, said the findings suggest adherence to a structured strength training program may help reduce gestational diabetes risk while improving maternal well-being.
The authors caution that further research is needed to confirm the results and to determine how strength training can best be integrated into routine prenatal care. The trial was limited to women with overweight or obesity, so applicability to other populations remains uncertain.
The study was published in 2026 with DOI 10.1111/aogs.70336.
Strength training can prevent diabetes during pregnancy, study shows
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