Background

Obesity rates in UK women of reproductive age have escalated in parallel with national obesity rates. Obesity in pregnant women is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, still birth and delivery of macrosomic infants.  Increasing evidence also suggests that obesity in pregnancy is related to development of childhood obesity through persistent alteration of  infant energy balance pathways.

The UPBEAT trial.

This study funded by an NIHR programme grant (CI Professor Lucilla Poston) the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity and the Chief Scientist Office (Scotland) is investigating the potential benefit of a complex intervention in obese pregnant women. The intervention is delivered by health trainers and comprises a combination of dietary advice (focussing on low glycemic index foods) and increasing physical activity. Following a successful feasibility pilot trial, a multicentre randomised controlled trial is now underway in London (Guys and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospital Foundation Trusts), Newcastle University NHS Foundation Trust, Sunderland City Hospitals Foundation Trust, Bradford, Manchester  and Glasgow. The primary outcome of the trial for the mother is gestational diabetes, and for the infant, macrosomia. 

Sample size. 1546 Recruitment is due to end February 2014

Eligibility. Pregnant women BMI >30m/kg². Singleton pregnancy. No pre-existing disease.

EarlyNutrition (http://www.project-earlynutrition.eu/) , an EU framework 7 study has provided funding for the follow up of UPBEAT children at the age of 3years to determine whether the intervention leads to a reduction in childhood obesity.

For further information please contact the Pregnancy Diabetes Research team on gst-tr.pregnancydiabetesresearch@nhs.net

Previous contact details, 2010-2014.

Annette Briley on 020 7188 3641 annette.briley@kcl.ac.uk or research midwives

Claire Singh (St Thomas') claire.singh@gstt.nhs.uk

Shiela O'Connor (King's College Hospital) s.o'connor@nhs.net

Ali Kimber (RVI, Newcastle) cath.mcparlin@ncl.ac.uk or

Therese McSorley(Western Clinical Trials Unit, Glasgow) therese.mcsorley@gcc.nhs.scot.uk

Natalie Patterson  (St Mary's Hospital, Manchester) sarah.lee2@cmft.nhs.uk

Vicky Jones (Bradford University Hospital Foundation Trust) vicky.jones@bhft.nhs.uk

Gill Campbell (Sunderland) gillian.campbell@chsft.nhs.uk

Deborah Brown (St Georges' University Hospital, London)