Understanding how sleep and circadian rhythms affect obesity risk in infants
Official title: Identifying mechanisms of maternal-infant obesity risk transmission: The role of appetite, sleep, and circadian rhythms
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10895523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how babies' sleep habits and body clocks can affect their hunger and risk of becoming overweight, and it’s for pregnant women in their third trimester who want to help their little ones develop healthy eating patterns right from the start.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $692,779 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166171-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10895523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include pregnant individuals in their third trimester with a body mass index of 18.5 kg/m2 or higher.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or who have a body mass index below 18.5 kg/m2 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how sleep patterns and circadian rhythms in infants influence their appetite and obesity risk. By studying pregnant individuals in their third trimester, the project aims to understand the relationship between maternal and infant sleep cycles and their effects on infant appetite development. The study will involve monitoring sleep and appetite traits in infants to identify potential behavioral interventions that could reduce obesity risk. The findings could lead to new strategies for promoting healthier weight gain patterns from infancy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective interventions that help prevent obesity in infants and improve long-term health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While there is emerging data on the relationship between sleep, circadian rhythms, and appetite, this specific approach is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conlon, Rachel P. Kolko — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Conlon, Rachel P. Kolko
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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.