Prenatal Exercise for Childhood Obesity
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial requires that participants do not use certain medications, such as oral hypertensive drugs and insulin, so you may need to stop taking these if you are currently using them.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Exercise Modes, Physical Activity, Aerobic Exercise, Resistance Exercise, Aerobic+Resistance Exercise for childhood obesity?
Research shows that aerobic exercise and a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises can improve cardiovascular health and reduce body weight, body mass index, and fat mass in children with obesity. These exercises have been associated with better health outcomes, making them effective treatments for managing childhood obesity.12345
Is prenatal exercise safe for pregnant women and their babies?
How does the treatment of prenatal exercise differ from other treatments for childhood obesity?
Prenatal exercise, which includes aerobic and resistance exercises, is unique because it targets childhood obesity by potentially influencing the child's health before birth, unlike other treatments that focus on modifying diet and activity levels after birth. This approach may help reduce obesity-related risk factors early on, promoting better long-term health outcomes.25111213
What is the purpose of this trial?
The overall objective of this proposal is to conduct a longitudinal prospective study of overweight/obese (OW/OB) pregnant women and their offspring to determine which prenatal exercise mode will have the greatest impact on maternal and infant cardiometabolic health. This information may lead to clinical practice recommendations that improve childhood health. This randomized controlled trial will recruit 284 OW/OB pregnant women randomized to an exercise intervention (aerobic (AE), resistance (RE), or aerobic+resistance exercise (AERE)) or to no exercise; their infants will be measured at 1, 6, and 12 months of age. This design will test our central hypothesis that AERE and RE training during pregnancy will improve maternal and offspring cardiometabolic outcomes to a greater extent than AE alone. This hypothesis will be tested with two specific aims:Aim 1. Determine the influence of different exercise modes during OW/OB pregnancy on infant cardiometabolic health and growth trajectories. Hypothesis: AE, RE, and AERE by OW/OB pregnant women will improve offspring neuromotor and cardiometabolic measures at 1, 6, and 12 months postpartum (e.g. decreased %body fat, BMI z-score, heart rate \[HR\], non-HDL, and C-Reactive Protein (CRP); increased insulin sensitivity) compared to infants of OW/OB pregnant women that do not exercise; AERE and RE will have the greatest impact on improving infant measures.Aim 2. Determine the most effective exercise mode in OW/OB pregnancy on improving maternal cardiometabolic health outcomes. Hypothesis: AE, RE, and AERE by OW/OB pregnant women will improve both maternal cardiometabolic health measures (e.g. decreased BMI z-score, non-HDL, % body fat, HR, weight gain) across pregnancy (16-36 weeks' gestation) and overall pregnancy outcomes (e.g. lower incidence of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, hypertension during gestation) compared to OW/OB pregnant women that do not exercise; AERE and RE will have the greatest impact on improving maternal health measures, with the AERE group having the highest compliance.The proposed study will be the first to provide an understanding of the influence of maternal exercise modes on the cardiometabolic health and growth trajectories of offspring who are at increased risk due to maternal OW/OB. This work will have a significant impact on reducing the cycle of OB, potentially providing the earliest and most efficacious intervention to decrease or prevent OB in the next generation.
Research Team
Linda E May, PhD
Principal Investigator
PI
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for overweight or obese pregnant women aged 18-40, with a BMI of 25 or higher and in their first 16 weeks of a single pregnancy. They must have clearance from their obstetric provider to exercise. Excluded are those under 18 or over 40, with medical conditions like HIV/AIDS, diabetes, untreated hypertension, thyroid disorders, or who use tobacco, alcohol, drugs.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Pregnant women participate in exercise interventions (aerobic, resistance, or combination) or no exercise from approximately 13 to 40 weeks of gestation
Follow-up
Participants and their infants are monitored for cardiometabolic health outcomes at 1, 6, and 12 months postpartum
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Exercise Modes
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
East Carolina University
Lead Sponsor