Sloboda Lab

Events occurring before birth influence weight gain, deposition of body fat and metabolic function during childhood and beyond. The increase in childhood obesity in recent decades has been more rapid than can be explained purely by genetic susceptibility or diet. Both poor maternal nutrition and prenatal stress have long-term effects on offspring growth and development and increase risk of disease in adulthood. Our lab is currently investigating the long-term impacts of maternal nutrition on offspring obesity risk and metabolic function. We are also interested in understanding if effects are seen in subsequent generations, ie trans-generational transmission of chronic disease risk.

Maternal nutritional impacts on offspring reproduction:

Although the mechanisms are unknown, we now know that postnatal reproductive function and fertility have intrauterine origins. Ovarian reserve represents the follicle pool within the ovary – a pool that is finite and established early in life, vulnerable to early life adversity. In this regard, low birth weight (LBW, <2500g), a marker of prenatal adversity, is associated with altered reproductive function, early puberty, ovarian dysfunction, poor pregnancy outcomes and early menopause. Our work is aimed at understanding the early life factors that induce developmental adaptations that result in impaired ovarian function and fertility, and a premature loss of ovarian reserve.