By Kaylee Alivo 

Kara Whitaker, associate professor in the Department of Health, Sport, and Human Physiology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, recently served as lead author on a science advisory in the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Circulation, the organization’s most prestigious journal.  

Titled “Sedentary Behavior and Light-Intensity Physical Activity During Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Health,” the publication highlights how sitting too often and engaging in low-intensity movement during pregnancy can affect cardiovascular health. Building on Whitaker’s expertise in physical activity and women’s health, the piece emphasizes how daily movement patterns contribute to maternal well-being and long-term heart health. The advisory calls for more research on these overlooked behaviors compared to traditional moderate-to-vigorous exercise.  

Whitaker proposed the topic and took on a lead authorship role because it aligned closely with her ongoing research and addressed an important gap in the field.  

“To date, most research on lifestyle behaviors and adverse pregnancy outcomes has focused on exercise,” she said. “However, we know less about the health risks of excessive sedentary behavior or low light-physical activity during pregnancy. This is an important research gap given that it may be easier for women to modify how much they sit or engage in light-physical activity, rather than start an exercise program.” 

She added that the new advisory reinforces this message, encouraging greater attention to how daily movement patterns shape maternal and cardiovascular health. “There is some evidence that high levels of sedentary behavior in pregnancy increases health risks, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy,” Whitaker said. “This science advisory is a call to action for more research to clarify these associations.” 

Whitaker’s work in the Physical Activity and Women’s Health Lab at Iowa directly supports that goal.  

“Currently, my lab has NIH funding to examine how 24-hour movement behaviors–physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep–across pregnancy relate to adverse outcomes like hypertensive disorders of pregnancy,” she said. “Our ongoing work in the lab will help address many of the research gaps identified in this science advisory.”