Maternal Metabolic and Molecular Changes Induced by Preconception Weight Loss and Their Effects on Birth Outcomes (NIDDK R01)

Maternal obesity during pregnancy is linked to conditions such as hypertension and gestational diabetes, as well as abnormalities in fetal growth and a higher infant birthweight and BMI that carries into early and late childhood. The hypothesis of this study is that significant weight loss prior to conception will improve intrauterine metabolic environment as reflected in the maternal metabolome and inflammation-related proteome and result in changes in methylation patterns in cord blood leukocytes.