This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The long range goal is to examine and understand the regulatory factors which contribute to the interaction between the physiology of exercise and the physiology of pregnancy. Women who are between the ages of 25-40 years, weigh between 50-75 kg., are between 10-28% body fat and plan to conceive will be recruited for this study. The exercising women must have been exercising for a minimum of three times a week for a minimum of 40 minutes for over one year, and the controls must have been exercising no more frequently than once a week. Women will perform regular exercise and be monitored five times: prior to pregnancy, and during the third, fifth, seventh and ninth month of pregnancy. Anthropometric measurements will also be taken at these times. The baby's heart rate will be monitored before and after exercise during the fifth, seventh and ninth month of pregnancy. Anthropometric measurements of the baby will be done at delivery. The three specific aims of this protocol are 1) to determine if exercise- and diet-associated reductions in maternal weight gain, neonatal fat mass and birth weight are markers for alterations in specific systems level indices of metabolic and cardiovascular function and risk, as well as body composition and fitness, in the offspring at 18-20 years of life; 2) to determine if continuing a regular, weight-bearing exercise regimen throughout pregnancy and diet are associated with alterations in specific systems level indices of cardiovascular function and risk, musculo-skeletal function, or body composition and fitness in women 18-20 years after the index pregnancy; and 3) to determine if maternal exercise volume and carbohydrate intake during pregnancy is associated with differences in post-natal growth, development and function in the first 5 years of life.
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