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Pregnancy

17th Jun 2020

Study proves that pregnant women are on the same level as endurance athletes

Melissa Carton

Pregnant

We knew it.

Any woman that has ever been pregnant knows the stress and strains that your body goes through. For the best part of nine months, you’re not only dealing with the extra weight of carrying another person but also morning sickness, lightheadedness and back pain.

A recent study by Duke University proves that pregnant women are basically endurance athletes and I can’t really say that I’m surprised.

The study analysed elite athletes from different fields and recorded their basal metabolic rates. Your basal metabolic rates are how many calories you need in order to function when your body is at rest.

While a Tour de France cyclist moves at 4.9 times their resting rate a pregnant woman can operate at 2.2 times their BMR. The most any person should be able to sustain according to the study is burning calories at 2.5 times their BMR.

stillbirth

Speaking to the New York Post evolutionary anthropology professor Herman Pontzer said;

“I don’t think any mother is surprised to learn how difficult pregnancy is!But I’ve had a few friends — including my wife — tell me it was good to see pregnancy recognized as extremely challenging.”

All this information considered they really should start handing out medals at the maternity hospitals.