Cold Induced Thermogenesis

Excess fetal adipose tissue growth during intrauterine development increases future obesity risk. Development of brown adipose tissue, a highly thermogenic organ in utero, may affect postnatal energy expenditure, thus influencing obesity risk. This pilot research study is designed to understand the developmental origins of energy balance by examining maternal and neonatal factors that influence neonatal brown adipose tissue and to quantify its physiological relevance to energy expenditure in human neonates.