Periconceptional Nutrition And The Programming Of Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,879.00
Summary
Mothers who enter pregnancy with a high body mass index are at risk of developing diabetes in pregnancy and of having a large baby who will be at increased risk of developing obesity in childhood and later life. Heavy mothers therefore have heavy babies and these babies go on to become heavy adults. This grant will determine the separate contributions of exposure of the embryo to high nutrition and exposure of the fetus in late gestation to high maternal nutrition.
Birth Weight, Adult Weight And Podocyte Depletion.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$796,252.00
Summary
A major role of our kidneys is to filter our blood. A key cell type in our kidney filters is an octopus-shaped cell known as the podocyte. If we are not born with enough podocytes, or if the filters grow too large after birth due for example to excessive weight gain, the podocytes cannot adequately filter the blood, and this can lead to kidney disease. We will measure podocyte endowment at birth, and assess the effects of weight gain and loss after birth on podocyte features and kidney health.
Causal Pathways From Maternal Obesity To Pregnancy, Perinatal & Childhood Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$775,703.00
Summary
Overweight and obesity affects more than 50% of women entering pregnancy. There are well-documented risks of poor health outcomes associated with obesity during pregnancy. We will evaluate whether an antenatal dietary and lifestyle intervention among pregnant women who are overweight or obese, acts via metabolic, hormonal, and inflammatory pathways, in the contribution of maternal obesity to adverse pregnancy, perinatal and early childhood health outcomes.
Sperm Methylation Status Predicts Embryo And Pregnancy Outcomes In Male Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,411.00
Summary
The incidence of male obesity in reproductively age men is epidemic and continually rising with close to 70% of men of reproductive age classified as overweight or obese. Male obesity is not only associated with sub fertility but also changes to pregnancy outcomes and influencing child health. This project will try to uncover the molecular changes in sperm, providing potential mechanisms for the abnormal foetal and pregnancy health seen as a result of male obesity.
Understanding The Contribution Of Sympathetic Overactivity To Maternally Programmed Obesity Related Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,083.00
Summary
Obesity and associated diseases are increasing worldwide. Aside from adult risk factors, the environment encountered during development may predispose to later disease. Our data shows that the diet consumed by pregnant mothers can influence the development of obesity and hypertension in her offspring and that the sympathetic nervous system becomes dysregulated. This project will assess how maternal fat intake in pregnancy affects sympathetic nervous system function in the offspring and we invest ....Obesity and associated diseases are increasing worldwide. Aside from adult risk factors, the environment encountered during development may predispose to later disease. Our data shows that the diet consumed by pregnant mothers can influence the development of obesity and hypertension in her offspring and that the sympathetic nervous system becomes dysregulated. This project will assess how maternal fat intake in pregnancy affects sympathetic nervous system function in the offspring and we investigate possible management strategies.Read moreRead less
Preventing Insulin Resistance And Obesity Following Fetal Growth Restriction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$923,510.00
Summary
Babies who are born small are at increased risk of diabetes and obesity in later life, partly because restricting growth before birth decreases the insulin sensitivity of muscle and diverts nutrients to fat deposition. We will define the mechanisms underlying impaired insulin sensitivity in fetal growth restriction. Importantly, we will also test interventions to improve insulin sensitivity after intrauterine growth restriction.