How pre-pregnancy weight changes affect pregnancy and child health

MatTrack: The impact of preconception maternal weight trajectories on maternal, pregnancy, and child outcomes

NIH-funded research Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-10876913

This study looks at how a woman's weight changes before pregnancy can affect her health and her baby's health, helping to find the best ways for women to manage their weight when they're planning to get pregnant.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionKaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10876913 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how changes in a woman's weight before pregnancy influence outcomes for both the mother and child. It focuses on understanding the effects of different weight trajectories—whether women lose, maintain, or gain weight in the two years leading up to pregnancy. By analyzing these patterns, the study aims to identify how they impact gestational weight gain, postpartum weight retention, and overall pregnancy and child health outcomes. The research will utilize data from various clinical subgroups to provide insights into optimal weight management strategies for women planning to conceive.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include women who are planning to become pregnant and are concerned about their weight and its impact on pregnancy.

Not a fit: Patients who are not planning to conceive or those with stable weight and no concerns about their pre-pregnancy health may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes for mothers and children by informing preconception weight management strategies.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has indicated that preconception weight management can influence pregnancy outcomes, but this specific approach to analyzing weight trajectories is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Oakland, 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.
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.