Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
Official title: Elucidating Neighborhood- and Individual-Level Factors Associated with Pregnancy Glycemia Levels and Childhood Obesity
Funded at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11616462 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 17, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $230,251 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HD115836-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11616462 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant individuals and their children, particularly in communities affected by higher obesity risk and socioeconomic disadvantage.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not exposed to the studied prenatal conditions or living in regions outside the studied cohorts may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
The researcher will study how prenatal neighborhood environments and personal factors combine to influence pregnancy blood sugar and the child’s later body composition and weight. Using data from existing cohorts, the team will analyze patterns over time to identify modifiable upstream determinants that could reduce obesity risk from infancy onward. The goal is to develop an integrative understanding that can guide interventions for families and communities. This work builds on prior training in GDM, neighborhood health determinants, and longitudinal growth analyses to translate findings into practical strategies. The study emphasizes solution-oriented approaches to improve maternal and child health across diverse populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform strategies to reduce childhood obesity and related cardiometabolic risks starting from pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that neighborhood and maternal factors can influence child health, but this project aims to integrate multiple determinants for a more complete picture.
Where this research is happening
-
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chehab, Rana F. — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Chehab, Rana F.
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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.