Research
Child Growth and Development – Ken Ong
In 2006, 29.7% of children aged 2 to 15 years old were classed as either overweight or obese. Obesity in childhood has important consequences for morbidity and mortality both in childhood and in adult life. The rising prevalence of obesity, even in young pre-school children, indicates that efforts to predict and prevent childhood obesity need to start very early in life.
The aim of our research is to promote the prediction and prevention of obesity in children. We are doing this by identifying genetic, dietary and other factors that act during child development. We aim to identify genetic factors and patterns of early infant diet and growth that predict childhood obesity. Using this information we then develop and test ways to avoid too much weight gain during infancy and obesity in children.
The specific objectives of our research are to:
- identify common genetic changes associated with rapid infant weight gain and childhood obesity risk
- identify patterns of infant diet and other behaviours associated with rapid infant weight gain and childhood obesity risk
- develop models for predicting rapid infant weight gain and childhood obesity based on genetics, parental obesity, birth weight, infant weight gain, and infant diet
- develop and test interventions to avoid excessive infant weight gain and childhood obesity (in collaboration with the Unit's Prevention Programme).
For further information about the measurements we take for our studies on child growth and development click here.
For a full list of studies that the Child Growth and Development Group is involved in click here.
