Pregnancy lifestyle intervention & childhood cardiovascular function
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effect of a complex lifestyle intervention in pregnant obese women on childhood cardiovascular function.
IRAS ID
136409
Contact name
Lucilla Poston
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Research summary
Obesity reduces the chance of a healthy pregnancy but may also have long-term consequences for the future health of the developing child. This research addresses the effects of lifestyle interventions in obese pregnant women on cardiovascular health in the child. We shall take advantage of a unique opportunity arising from a UK study (The UPBEAT trial) which aims to reduce the risks from obesity in pregnancy by improving the mother's lifestyle. We hypothesise that 3-4 year old children will have healthier hearts and blood vessels if their obese mothers took part in the intervention than those whose mothers were allocated to routine pregnancy care. To find out about the healthiness of their heart and blood vessels we shall measure blood pressure and how it is controlled. We shall also determine the healthiness of the children’s hearts, using a very accurate new imaging method to look at heart function in UPBEAT newborns. In a subgroup of newborns this new imaging methods will also be compared to existing method of ultrasound of the heart. Comparisons will be made between children of mothers from intervention and control arms of the study, and with children whose mothers were not obese when pregnant.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1450
Date of REC Opinion
27 Nov 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion