Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study

NCT02217462 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: HHSN275201300015C
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 458
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The primary purpose of this observational cohort study is to examine the role of "food reward" in maternal diet and weight change during pregnancy and postpartum. The study will further examine the importance of food reward in the context of behavioral control and other related aspects of eating behavior, as well as weight-related biomedical, psychosocial and behavioral factors including genetics, physical activity, stress, sleep and depression. Four hundred and fifty women of varying baseline weight status will be enrolled early in pregnancy (before 12 weeks postpartum) and followed until 1 year postpartum. Assessments will occur at baseline (\<12 weeks postpartum), during pregnancy at 13-18 weeks gestation, 16-22 weeks, and 28-32 weeks, and postpartum at 4-6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months. Measures will include assessments of food reward and related constructs, dietary intake, other health behaviors, and anthropometrics. Clinical data and biological specimens will be obtained. Infant anthropometrics and feeding practices will also be assessed. Primary exposures include aspects of food reward and behavioral control, which will be assessed in multiple ways to maximize information and utility. Primary outcomes include gestational weight gain, postpartum weight retention and dietary quality.

Conditions

Pregnancy

Keywords

pregnancy; gestational weight gain; dietary intake; food reward

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Body weight

  <12 weeks pregnancy; 16-22 weeks pregnancy; 28-32 weeks pregnancy; delivery; 4-6 weeks postpartum; 6 months postpartum; 1 year postpartum

• Dietary intake

  <12 weeks pregnancy; 16-22 weeks pregnancy; 28-32 weeks pregnancy; 4-6 weeks postpartum; 6 months postpartum; 1 year postpartum

Study Arms (1)

Pregnant women

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 44 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

PEAS is a prospective observational study of N=450 women without evidence of psychiatric or eating disorders, recruited in early pregnancy (≤12 weeks), targeting N=150 in each weight status group: normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9), overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and obese (BMI \>=30). Women will be followed through pregnancy and until 1 year postpartum, along with their infants from birth to 1 year, with collection of blood, stool, and urine specimens, previous and current medical information, dietary intake and eating behaviors, anthropometrics, and demographic information.

You may qualify if:

• Female confirmed pregnant \<12 weeks at screening
• Uncomplicated singleton pregnancy anticipated
• Age \>=18 and \<45 at screening
• Willingness to undergo study procedures and provide informed consent for her participation and assent for the baby's participation
• BMI \>=18.5 (to qualify as normal: 18.5-24.9; overweight 25-29.9; or obese : \>=30)
• Able to complete self-reported assessments in English
• Access to Internet with email to complete self-reported assessments
• Plan to deliver at UNC Hospital
• Plan to remain in the area for 1 year following delivery

You may not qualify if:

• Pre-existing diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
• Multiple pregnancy
• Participant-reported eating disorder
• Any fetal anomaly requiring surgery with hospital admission following delivery (e.g. NTDs, gastroschisis, cardiac defects, Trisomy 21)
• Any medical condition contraindicating participation in the study such as chronic illnesses or use of medication that could affect diet or weight e.g. cancer, HIV, active renal disease, MI in the last 6 months, chronic steroid use, thyroid disease requiring medication, or autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, scleroderma)
• Psychosocial condition contraindicating participation in the study such as bipolar, schizophrenia, major affective disorder, substance abuse.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): lead
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: collaborator
• The Emmes Company, LLC: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

UNC Hospitals Obstetrics Clinic; Timberlylne Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinic

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States

Location

Related Publications (11)

• Lipsky LM, Burger KS, Faith MS, Shearrer GE, Nansel TR. Eating in the absence of hunger is not associated with weight, self-reported eating behaviors, or well-being in pregnant adults: Prospective cohort study. PLoS One. 2025 Jun 24;20(6):e0325478. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0325478. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 40554514 DERIVED

• Cummings JR, Faith MS, Lipsky LM, Liu A, Mooney JT, Nansel TR. Prospective relations of maternal reward-related eating, pregnancy ultra-processed food intake and weight indicators, and feeding mode with infant appetitive traits. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2022 Aug 3;19(1):100. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01334-9.

  PMID: 35922793 DERIVED

• Cummings JR, Lipsky LM, Schwedhelm C, Liu A, Nansel TR. Associations of ultra-processed food intake with maternal weight change and cardiometabolic health and infant growth. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2022 May 26;19(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01298-w.

  PMID: 35619114 DERIVED

• Temmen CD, Lipsky LM, Faith MS, Nansel TR. Prospective relations between maternal emotional eating, feeding to soothe, and infant appetitive behaviors. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021 Aug 11;18(1):105. doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01176-x.

  PMID: 34380499 DERIVED

• Schwedhelm C, Lipsky LM, Shearrer GE, Betts GM, Liu A, Iqbal K, Faith MS, Nansel TR. Using food network analysis to understand meal patterns in pregnant women with high and low diet quality. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021 Jul 23;18(1):101. doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01172-1.

  PMID: 34301273 DERIVED

• Betts GM, Lipsky LM, Temmen CD, Siega-Riz AM, Faith MS, Nansel TR. Poorer mental health and sleep quality are associated with greater self-reported reward-related eating during pregnancy and postpartum: an observational cohort study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021 May 1;18(1):58. doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01124-9.

  PMID: 33933087 DERIVED

• Nansel TR, Lipsky LM, Faith M, Liu A, Siega-Riz AM. The accelerator, the brake, and the terrain: associations of reward-related eating, self-regulation, and the home food environment with diet quality during pregnancy and postpartum in the pregnancy eating attributes study (PEAS) cohort. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020 Nov 23;17(1):149. doi: 10.1186/s12966-020-01047-x.

  PMID: 33228724 DERIVED

• Lipsky LM, Burger KS, Faith MS, Shearrer GE, Nansel TR. Eating in the Absence of Hunger Is Related to Worse Diet Quality throughout Pregnancy. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2021 Mar;121(3):501-506. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2020.09.037. Epub 2020 Nov 3.

  PMID: 33158801 DERIVED

• Lipsky LM, Burger KS, Faith MS, Siega-Riz AM, Liu A, Shearrer GE, Nansel TR. Pregnant Women Consume a Similar Proportion of Highly vs Minimally Processed Foods in the Absence of Hunger, Leading to Large Differences in Energy Intake. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2021 Mar;121(3):446-457. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2020.09.036. Epub 2020 Oct 24.

  PMID: 33109504 DERIVED

• Hill C, Lipsky LM, Betts GM, Siega-Riz AM, Nansel TR. A Prospective Study of the Relationship of Sleep Quality and Duration with Gestational Weight Gain and Fat Gain. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021 Mar;30(3):405-411. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8306. Epub 2020 Sep 18.

  PMID: 32945728 DERIVED

• Nansel TR, Lipsky LM, Siega-Riz AM, Burger K, Faith M, Liu A. Pregnancy eating attributes study (PEAS): a cohort study examining behavioral and environmental influences on diet and weight change in pregnancy and postpartum. BMC Nutr. 2016;2:45. doi: 10.1186/s40795-016-0083-5. Epub 2016 Jul 15.

  PMID: 28663822 DERIVED

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

Serum Plasma White and red blood cells Urine Stool

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Gestational Weight Gain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Weight Gain; Body Weight Changes; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Tonja R. Nansel, PhD

  Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: NIH
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 13, 2014
• First Posted: August 15, 2014
• Study Start: October 1, 2014
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2018
• Study Completion: June 1, 2018
• Last Updated: February 28, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-02

Locations

US (1)