How maternal obesity and diabetes during pregnancy affect children's health as they grow up

Effects of prenatal exposures to maternal obesity and gestational diabetes on metabolic decline from childhood to adolescence and underlying neurobiological pathways

NIH-funded research University of Southern California · NIH-11085981

This study looks at how a mother’s weight and diabetes during pregnancy might affect her child's health as they grow up, especially regarding weight and diabetes risk, and it aims to find ways to help kids who might be at risk.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Southern California NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11085981 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how being exposed to maternal obesity and gestational diabetes during pregnancy impacts children's metabolic health from childhood into adolescence. It uses advanced neuroimaging techniques and metabolic assessments to understand the biological mechanisms behind these effects. By studying brain pathways related to energy balance, the research aims to uncover how these prenatal exposures may lead to obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life. The findings could help identify at-risk children and inform preventive strategies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include children aged 0-20 who were exposed to maternal obesity or gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

Not a fit: Patients who were not exposed to maternal obesity or gestational diabetes during pregnancy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention of obesity and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results in animal models, and initial findings in human cohorts support the relevance of this approach.

Where this research is happening

Los Angeles, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions adult onset diabetesAdult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.