Lifestyle and Pregnancy: The Clinical Effect of Lifestyle Intervention During Pregnancy in Obese Women

Summary

Obesity is a serious and increasing health problem in the Western World with about one third of all pregnant women in Denmark being overweight. Among these are more than 11% severe obese.

Obesity in pregnancy is related to higher maternal morbidity and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Observational studies indicate that the rate of pregnancy complications among obese pregnant women can be limited if weight gain during pregnancy is restricted.

Aims of the trial is to study the effects of diet and physical training during pregnancy among Danish obese women. Also to describe the metabolic effects of lifestyle intervention during pregnancy.

360 obese pregnant women with Body Mass Index (BMI) \> 30 are randomized to lifestyle intervention group or control group. The intervention is composed of individual dietician counselling and physical training. The physical training includes weekly aerobic exercises in a fitness center and lifestyle coaching in small groups.

Both groups will be examined during pregnancy with extra ultrasound scanning of the fetus, blood pressure, and metabolic markers. All women receive vitamin supplementation to assure sufficient intake.

Conditions

• Maternal Obesity
• Gestational Weight Gain
• Obstetric Complications

Interventions

OTHER

Lifestyle intervention

Dietician counselling and physical training

OTHER

Control

Repeated measuring of maternal weight gain, blood samples and ultrasound

BEHAVIORAL

Physical activity, dietetic counselling

The active intervention consisted of two major components: dietary counseling and physical activity. Dietary counseling was performed by trained dieticians on four separate occasions at 15, 20, 28 and 35 weeks gestation. Energy requirements for each participant were individually estimated according to weight and level of activity during pregnancy. Women in the active intervention group were encouraged to be moderately physically active 30-60 minutes a day.Women in this group also had free full time membership in a fitness center for six months. In the fitness centers they had closed training classes with trained physiotherapists for one hour each week.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Aarhus University Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Odense University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Christina A. Vinter, Ph.d. Student · Odense University Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2007-10-31

Primary Completion

2010-10-31

Completion

2010-10-31

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations