Can diet and exercise before pregnancy reduce baby fat?

NCT ID NCT03146156

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Tufts Medical Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether a healthy eating (Mediterranean diet) and exercise program started before pregnancy could help obese women lose 5-7% of their weight and improve health for both mother and baby. Researchers enrolled 99 women who had a previous baby and were planning another pregnancy within two years. The goal was to see if this lifestyle change could reduce fat in newborns and improve the mother's metabolism.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Lifestyle intervention (Mediterranean diet and exercise)
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could help break the cycle of obesity by improving health in mothers and reducing fat in newborns.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study with only 99 participants. Results may not apply to all women, and lifestyle changes can be hard to maintain.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Fetal Macrosomia Obesity obesity disorder Overweight psychiatric disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
MetroHealth Medical Center

Cleveland, Ohio, 44109, United States
Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808, United States
Tufts Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, United States

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