Investigating how cesarean delivery affects obesity risk through hormone levels
Official title: Avoiding Cesarean-induced Obesity Through Hormone Rescue
Funded at University of Delaware · NIH-11062450 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being born by cesarean section might change hormone levels in newborns, which could lead to weight gain and obesity later in life, using prairie voles to help understand these effects for both animals and humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $337,969 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD111737-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062450 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include newborns delivered via cesarean section and their families.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who were not delivered via cesarean section are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the impact of cesarean section (CS) deliveries on hormone levels in newborns and how these changes may lead to increased obesity later in life. By studying prairie voles, a rodent model, the researchers aim to understand the physiological effects of CS on energy regulation and metabolism. The study will assess how altered hormone signaling at birth influences weight gain and fat distribution as the voles develop. The findings could provide insights into the long-term health implications of cesarean deliveries for both animals and humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to strategies that mitigate obesity risks associated with cesarean deliveries in newborns.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has indicated a connection between birth mode and obesity risk, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Delaware
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kenkel, William — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Kenkel, William
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Understanding how maternal and infant sleep and daily rhythms influence early appetite and obesity risk
This project explores how infant sleep, circadian rhythms, and maternal-infant timing relate to early appetite patterns and the risk of obesity in the first year of life.
-
GLP-1 receptor agonists as immune targets to treat asthma in lean and obese adults
Aims to understand how GLP-1R‑agonist diabetes medicines may directly calm immune cells to reduce asthma in adults who are lean or obese.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
-
Multicomponent lifestyle program to curb obesity and cardiometabolic risk in Samoan children
A locally designed lifestyle program aimed at preventing obesity and heart-disease risk in Samoan kids, with a focus on daily routines, healthy eating, sleep, and family support.
-
Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity manage weight in Nepal
A new app designed for pregnant women in Nepal with overweight or obesity to help manage weight gain during pregnancy and reduce weight retention after birth.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.