# Glycemic Pattern Biofeedback as Lifestyle Modification Tool in Pregnancies with Obesity

> **NIH NIH P20** · ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RES INST · 2024 · $200,616

## Abstract

Maternal obesity, hyperglycemia and excessive gestational weight gain (eGWG) all associate with 
increased risk for overweight/obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in the offspring. It is 
particular women with low socioeconomic status and from racial minorities that record highest prevalence of 
maternal obesity, while also reporting the lowest prenatal care visits. On par, Arkansas has seen the 
nationwide highest increase in pregnancies with obesity (22/4%) with ~4 out of ten women being affected. 
Thus, there is a critical need for a cost-effective, efficacious intervention, fit for implementation in vulnerable 
populations. 
Obesity is a chronic disease that requires effective self-management. Unhealthy eating patterns and low 
levels of physical activity (PA) are manageable behaviors that have been linked to eGWG and adverse health 
outcomes in mother and children, and behavioral counseling interventions (BCI) focused on diet counseling 
and PA uptake have shown a ~20% decrease in eGWG occurrence and pregnancy complications. However, 
over half of women in BCI groups still experience inappropriate GWG. A possible avenue of refinement is in 
the process measures given to individuals to track intervention adherence. 
Self-monitoring via continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has shown improved healthful behaviors and 
glycemic control in adults with and without diabetes. Furthermore, preliminary data from our group show thus 
far feasibility in pregnant women with obesity but without diabetes diagnosis (79% compliance when wearing a 
CGM sensor for 14 days per trimester). Yet, the feasibility of continued CGM sensor wear throughout gestation 
as well as the behavioral feedback value of CGM data to enhance self-management in pregnant with obesity 
but without diabetes (PWOWD) has yet to be established. To address whether a future definite RCT of adding 
CGM as a self-management tool to an existing BCI in PWOWD is feasible, we propose the following aims: 
Aim 1: Complete formative research per the Replicating Effective Programs (REP) framework to identify 
key elements for including CGM into an existing BCI for use in Arkansas women from urban and rural areas. 
Aim 2: Determine feasibility of the adapted procedures and planned outcomes in a randomized pilot and 
feasibility trial. 
Overall Impact: Results from this study will provide essential data to inform an R01 application (RFA-OD-23- 
014) to conduct a definite RCT for testing the efficacy of an existing BCI enhanced by process measures from 
wearable technology. Leveraging feasibility assessments to incorporate formative work will demonstrate new 
avenues to improve BCI efficacy in future research designs and ultimately deliver impactful lifestyle 
interventions that will improve maternal and child health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11170311
- **Project number:** 5P20GM109096-09
- **Recipient organization:** ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RES INST
- **Principal Investigator:** Lisa Tjorven Jansen
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $200,616
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11170311

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11170311, Glycemic Pattern Biofeedback as Lifestyle Modification Tool in Pregnancies with Obesity (5P20GM109096-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11170311. Licensed CC0.

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