# Lifestyle Intervention in Preparation for Pregnancy (LIPP)

> **NIH NIH R01** · TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $696,776

## Abstract

Project Summary
The objective of this proposal is to break the vicious cycle of obesity/metabolic dysfunction
during pregnancy. Lifestyle interventions in obese women during pregnancy have had limited
success in improving maternal or offspring short and long-term metabolic health. We propose
that lifestyle interventions need to be initiated prior to conception in overweight and obese
women (henceforth referred to as obese) in order to first improve maternal metabolism. Lifestyle
interventions will take place in the Cleveland Community Recreation Centers. Metabolic
evaluations will be conducted in the Clinical Research Units of the Case Western Reserve
Clinical Translational Science Center (CTSC). This strategy will result in decreased fetal
adiposity and improved metabolic function in the offspring. We plan to recruit 200 obese women
to pursue the following specific aims:
Specific Aim 1: To investigate the physiological significance of lifestyle intervention in
preparation for pregnancy (LIPP) on maternal and neonatal metabolism and adiposity in
humans.
Specific Aim 1a. We hypothesize that preconception lifestyle intervention will facilitate lower
maternal insulin resistance, inflammation, weight, adiposity, incretin response and energy
expenditure compared to usual care. We will link these changes in maternal metabolism with
fetal growth (SA1b).
Specific Aim 1b. We hypothesize that in women initiating pre-pregnancy lifestyle intervention
will deliver a baby with lower birth weight and fat accretion, insulin resistance, and
inflammatory profile at birth. Body composition will be measured using anthropometrics and air
displacement densitometry (Pea Pod).
Specific Aim 2: To determine the molecular effects whereby lifestyle intervention
initiated before pregnancy improves placental mitochondrial lipid oxidation and lipid
accumulation.
We hypothesize that lifestyle intervention before pregnancy will improve placental mitochondrial
oxidation and decrease lipid esterification/storage. Isotope-labeled fatty acid oxidation and
esterification will be quantified in vitro in placental explants from a subset of women.
Mitochondrial lipid metabolism and content will be measured using qRT-PCR and Elisa.
Placental lipids will be quantified by mass spectrophotometry and correlated with neonatal
adiposity and maternal metabolism providing a mechanistic link to SA 1.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9849601
- **Project number:** 5R01HD088061-05
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Patrick Catalano
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $696,776
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-13 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9849601

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9849601, Lifestyle Intervention in Preparation for Pregnancy (LIPP) (5R01HD088061-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9849601. Licensed CC0.

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