A groundbreaking study published in 2019 in “Science Advances”, a scientific journal by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), conducted by evolutionary anthropologist Herman Pontzer from Duke University, delved into the metabolic challenges of pregnancy, likening it to extreme endurance activities like the Tour de France or ultramarathons. The study revealed that pregnancy surpasses these events in both duration and intensity.
Pontzer’s findings indicated that pregnancy requires around 2.2 times an individual’s basal metabolic rate (BMR), the energy needed to maintain bodily functions at rest. This represents nearly double the usual energy expenditure, sustained continuously for nine months.
In contrast, elite endurance events like the Tour de France, renowned for its physical demands, elevate the body’s energy output to approximately 4.9 times BMR, but only for a limited period of a few weeks.
Pregnancy, on the other hand, entails a relentless and gradual exertion, impacting various aspects of a woman’s physiology, including cardiovascular health, kidney function, hormonal equilibrium, and immune response, all vital for nurturing a developing fetus.
Therefore, the perception of pregnancy as a routine aspect of life should be reconsidered, recognizing the remarkable and sustained physical endurance involved, as supported by scientific research.