Endurance training and time restricted eating before and during pregnancy

Endurance training and time restricted eating before and during pregnancy

The aim of this study is to investigate whether the combination of endurance tranining and time restricted eating before and during pregnancy can reduce the risk of high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Time restricted eating implies that you reduce your daily time-window of energy intake to a maximum of 10 hours per day.

Participants will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group (endurance training + time restricted eating) or the control group (Continues to live as usual during the study period). Participants in the control group who do not become pregnant after six months will be offered a similar training programme as the participants in the intervention group.

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

  1. Contemplating pregnancy within the next six months.
  2. Age: 18-39 years old
  3. At least one of the following criteria for increased risk of gestational diabetes must apply:
  • BMI 25-40 kg/m2
  • Previous gestational diabetes
  • Close relative with diabetes (either parents, siblings or children with diabetes)
  • Ethnic origin from Asia or Africa
  • Previously given birth to a child more than 4.5 kg
  1. You must understand written and oral English or Norwegian.
  2. Living in the Trondheim area (able to come in for testing)

Interval training and time restricted eating before and during pregnancy, Del 2

In the project, we will measure the participants blood glucose (sugar) levels, insulin and lipids in the blood, urine sampling, body composition, physical fitness and blood pressure at the beginning of the project and again after eight weeks. The participants will be asked to wear a small glucose monitor for 14 days, twice during the study (at the beginning of the study period and after 6-8 weeks). They will also be asked to wear an activity monitor on their upper arm for seven days at the start of the study. During pregnancy, we will again measure the participants blood glucose levels, insulin and lipids in the blood, as well as blood sugar regulation, urine sampling, body composition and blood pressure, when they are 12 and 28 weeks pregnant. At birth, umbilical cord blood will be collected. They will also be asked to complete some questionnaires (including physical activity, sleep and quality of life). In addition, we will obtain relevant information from the child’s birth record from the hospital. Within 3 days after birth and 6 weeks after birth, we will measure subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness in the new-born using infrared light. At the same time, we will also measure the baby`s blood pressure and heart function. Both intervention – and control group will receive standard care and invited to an additional ultrasound examination in week 12 and 32 if they become pregnant.

The project is undertaken at Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU and is approved by The Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics. Collaborating partners is professor and senior consultant Kjell Å. Salvesen, investigator and senior consultant Siri Ann Nyrnes and Professor Ann-Charlotte Iversen.

Wish to participate?

Please contact Hilde Normann Lund to participate or for more information. See her contact details to the right (or below if you are on a mobile phone).


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