By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D. Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker Jun 4 2026 Mothers who followed a supervised exercise program throughout pregnancy had babies with lower BMI and reduced odds of overweight at 12 months, offering new clues about how prenatal lifestyle habits may shape early growth trajectories. Study: Exercise during pregnancy and infant body mass index during the first year of life: a secondary per-protocol analysis of a randomized clinical trial . Image credit: New Africa/