Research
Research Areas
The research in the Unit is divided into eight areas. Details of each research area can be found in the following pages.
Aetiology of Diabetes – Nick Wareham
- Studies the association of genes with type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders.
- Examines how these associations are modified by environmental factors, such as diet and physical activity.
Genetic Aetiology of Obesity
- Identifies genes that contribute to the risk of developing obesity and obesity-related conditions.
- Explores how environmental factors increase the chances of developing obesity in the people that have these genes.
Nutritional Epidemiology – Nita Forouhi
- Investigates the role that diet and nutrition plays in the risk of developing diabetes, obesity and obesity-related disorders
- Develops and uses improved methods of assessment of diet.
Child Growth and Development – Ken Ong
- Identifies factors, such as genetics and diet, which predict childhood obesity.
- Develops and tests methods to avoid excessive infant weight gain and childhood obesity.
Physical Activity Epidemiology – Søren Brage
- Investigates how physical activity and sedentary behaviour affects the health of people across their lifespan.
- Develops and evaluates different methods for assessing physical activity in epidemiological studies.
Physical Activity and Public Health – David Ogilvie
- Evaluates the effects of environmental and policy interventions on physical activity behaviours.
- Studies related patterns and mechanisms of behaviour change.
Behavioural Epidemiology of Physical Activity – Esther van Sluijs
- Investigates physical activity behaviour in young people with the aim of developing and evaluating interventions to promote physical activity.
- Uses observational research to further understand where, when and how physical activity interventions in young people may be targeted.
Prevention of Diabetes and Obesity – Simon Griffin
- Translates knowledge gained from epidemiological studies into action to prevent diabetes, obesity and related metabolic disorders.
- Assesses the effectiveness of different approaches to prevent these conditions and their complications.
