Physical activity is a cornerstone in health promotion, as it has beneficial effects on physical, mental and social wellbeing. The 2020 WHO guidelines recommend that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity or an equivalent combination every week. However, a substantial proportion of adults, especially women, are less physically active than recommended.

Approximately 60,000 women give birth every year in Denmark. Most of them follow the national maternity care programme in the healthcare system. Therefore, the pregnancy and postpartum period offers a window of opportunity to reach out to women who are insufficiently physically active.

This PhD project aimed to investigate if mothers are less physically active than other women and to identify strategies for promoting physical activity after childbirth in mothers in Denmark.

Three studies

The project comprises three complementary studies. Studies 1 and 2 investigate the extent and distribution of non-adherence to the WHO physical activity guideline among mothers in Denmark. Study 3 identifies strategies developed through co-creation with healthcare professionals and mothers to inform future interventions aimed at supporting mothers in becoming more physically active after childbirth.

The results can be summarised in two main conclusions. Firstly, Danish mothers are less physically active than other women and thus constitute a potential target group for interventions aimed at promoting physical activity after childbirth. Secondly, it seems possible to integrate such efforts into the existing maternity care programme, thereby offering targeted interventions to different populations of mothers. National guidelines may also support physical activity after childbirth.

Oral defence on 10 September 2025

Solvej Videbæk Bueno will defend her PhD dissertation ”Move Mom: Physical activity following pregnancy and childbirth” on Wednesday 10 September 2025 at 14:00 in the Merete Barker Auditorium (1253-211), Lakeside Lecture Theatres, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C.

The defence is open to the public. Everyone is welcome. After the defence, the Research Unit for General Practice will host a small reception (1261-118) at the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University.

About the project

The PhD dissertation and the three included scientific papers present the results of a three-year enrolment at the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University. The project was conducted at the Research Unit for General Practice in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University.

The project was supported by grants from the Graduate School of Health at Aarhus University, the Danish Health Foundation (Helsefonden), the A.P. Møller Foundation (Fonden til Lægevidenskabens Fremme) and the Research Unit for General Practice in Aarhus.

Further information

PhD student Solvej Videbæk Bueno
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health &
Research Unit for General Practice
Email: solvej.videbaek@ph.au.dk

The three studies of the project

• Parous women perform less moderate to vigorous physical activity than their nulliparous peers: a population-based study in Denmark. Bueno SV, Nielsen RO, Kallestrup P, Ryom K, Morgan K, Elsborg P, Petersen CB, Jacobsen JS. Public Health. 2024 Jun:231:47-54. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2024.03.010. Epub 2024 Apr 15.
• Danish mothers of young children adhere less to international physical activity guidelines compared with mothers of older children. Bueno SV, Skejø SD, Nielsen RO, Ryom K, Kallestrup P, Elsborg P, Petersen CB, Jacobsen JS. Prev Med Rep. 2025 Jan 11:50:102970.  doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2025.102970. eCollection 2025 Feb.
• Supporting postpartum physical activity in maternity care: a co-creation study in Denmark. Bueno SV, Jacobsen JS, Nielsen RO, Kallestrup P, Ryom K. Midwifery. 2025 Sep:148:104523. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2025.104523. Epub 2025 Jul 15