The role of physical activity on metabolic health during pregnancy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of physical activity on metabolic health during pregnancy
IRAS ID
263600
Contact name
Tori Sprung
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 9 days
Research summary
The project aims to metabolically phenotype pregnant women to one of four groups: metabolically healthy obese (MHO), metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO), metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW) and metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW). This will be based on BMI (non-obese <30 vs obese ≥ 30 kg/m2) and the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria excluding waist circumference. These groups will allow us to assess anthropometric and cardiometabolic health in MUO and MUNW compared to MHO and MHNW pregnant women in Liverpool. Additionally, the project aims to quantify the effects of maternal anthropometric and cardiovascular health markers in pregnant phenotypes as well as assess the relationship between cardiovascular structure and function with habitual physical activity and sedentary behaviour. All participants will be required to attend the laboratory on at least 5 separate occasions (there is a choice for the research to visit the women in the comfort of their own homes for the last 2 visits). Thereafter, the first 3 testing visits will be organised coinciding with end-trimester time-points whilst the final two visits will be a follow-up within 4 weeks of delivery and 6 months of delivery. Laboratory assessments made will include blood vessel function and structure in the arm and brain, fitness level, body fat percentage and habitual physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Post-delivery visits will include maternal quality of life, habitual physical activity and offspring arterial health assessments. An additional 3 visits will be optional for participants which will be organsied within a week of visits 1-3 and consist of an oral glucose tolerance test.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0579
Date of REC Opinion
2 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion