Effects of Obesity and Physical Inactivity on Pregnancy Outcomes

Completed

Conditions studied: Obesity, Sedentary

In brief

Regular maternal physical activity leads to the delivery of lighter, leaner infants. Higher birth weights and childhood obesity are both strong predictors for adult obesity, suggesting that the impact of maternal physical activity on the future health of a child is substantial. However, the mechanisms underlying the relationships between maternal physical activity and improved infant outcomes are unclear. Thus, the purpose of this project is to measure two potential contributing factors: maternal fat metabolism and maternal oxidative stress profiles. The investigators believe that maternal physical activity leads to beneficial alterations in maternal fat metabolism and oxidative stress profiles. Further, the investigators believe that both maternal fat metabolism and oxidative stress levels are related to infant outcomes such as obesity and insulin resistance. Therefore, exercise will improve maternal metabolic factors that can lead to improvements in infant outcomes. The investigators will compare these factors between obese inactive pregnant women and obese active pregnant women. This study design will allow us not only to determine the effect of physical activity on maternal and neonatal pregnancy outcomes, but also to establish whether obesity or physical inactivity should be a primary area of focus when prescribing pregnancy interventions in clinical practice.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02039414

Run by

Washington University School of Medicine

People needed

40

Starts

2013-10-01

Expected to finish

2015-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2016-08-22

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 44. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• . Age 18-44 2. Confirmed singleton viable pregnancy with no fetal abnormalities at routine 18-22 ultrasonography 3. Obese: Pre-pregnancy BMI between 30 and 45 kg/m2 4. Receipt of prenatal care and plans to deliver at Barnes-Jewish Hospital 5. Inactive: < 30min of low intensity activity (>1.5 METS) all or most days of the week Physically Active: >150 minutes/week of moderate to high intensity activity 6. Completion of a normal routine, standard of care 1 hour 50 gram gestational diabetes screen

You may not qualify if…

• Multiple gestation pregnancy
• Inability to provide voluntary informed consent
• Current use of illegal drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, etc…)
• Current smoker who does not consent to cessation
• Current usage of daily medications by class: corticosteroids, anti-psychotics (known to alter insulin resistance and metabolic profiles)
• History of gestational diabetes, pre-pregnancy diabetes or prior macrosomic (>4500g) infant (each elevate the risk for gestational diabetes in the current pregnancy, or undiagnosed gestational diabetes)
• History of heart disease.

Where it is running

• Washington University in St. Louis — St Louis, Missouri, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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