PhD defence by Nina Kornerup

Before the Beginning - Developing a randomised controlled trial and assessing preconception health in women living with excess body weight: insights from the PRE-STORK trial

Assessment Committee:
Associate professor Kirstine Nyvold Bojsen-Møller (Chairperson)
Professor Jens Melgaard Bruun
Dr Hanna Emilia Huvinen

Supervisors:
Clinical Professor Tina Vilsbøll
Guest Researcher Louise Groth Grunnet
Professor Signe Sørensen Torekov

Department:
Department of Clinical Medicine

Graduate Programme:
Life Cycle in Medicine

Place:
Panum, Room: Adolf Hannover auditoriet, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 København N

Email address to gain access to the thesis: Ninakornerup@gmail.com
You will either receive a copy of the thesis or be informed where you can read a physical copy.

Short description of the thesis:
Overweight and obesity before pregnancy increase the risk of complications for both mother and child, including gestational diabetes, pregnancy complications, and long-term adverse health outcomes. However, lifestyle interventions initiated during pregnancy have shown limited effects, suggesting that improving health before conception may be more effective.

This PhD thesis is based on the PRE-STORK trial and investigates the health of women with overweight and obesity before and in early pregnancy. The thesis explores cardiometabolic health, mental health, and psychological factors that may influence lifestyle behaviours. The findings highlight that many women already have cardiometabolic and psychological risk factors before pregnancy and suggest that broader assessments beyond BMI alone may help improve future care and prevention strategies for both mothers and children.