MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health

Can physical activity avert the negative health impacts of obesity?

Part of the UK Public Health Research Consortium's research programme, this project investigated whether the health consequences of being overweight or obese can be modified by physical activity.  For example, is an overweight adult who takes up regular physical activity at lower risk of obesity-related disease than one who persists with less healthy activity patterns?

The timing of the physical activity was the focus of the research, to establish whether 'it is never too late' to alter health outcomes. This project used data from the 1958 Birth Cohort and looked at a number of other factors, besides physical activity, from childhood through to adulthood. 

Principal investigator: Chris Power

More information: Public Health Research Consortium website

Changes in BMI and how it affects our risk of developing type 2 diabetes

By analysing data from the 1958 Birth Cohort we investigated how childhood obesity and changes to BMI over the life course affected the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The conclusion was that excessive BMI gain across the life span and earlier onset of overweight or obesity were associated with impaired glucose metabolism, in part because of the final BMI.

Principal investigator: Chris Power

Genome-wide association of vitamin D  

This study is aiming to identify genetic factors which affect vitamin D status or the risk of deficiency. This is important, not only in order to determine the importance of genetic background on the risk of deficiency, but to allow us to work towards understanding how genes and environment act together.

This work is largely carried out using data from the 1958 British Birth Cohort and the 1966 Northern Finland Birth Cohort. Currently, we are also a leading analysis centre for the genome-wide meta-analyses on vitamin D status for the SUNLIGHT Consortium (Study of Underlying Genetic Determinants of Vitamin D and Highly Related Traits).

Principal investigator: Elina Hyppönen

Genetics and epidemiology of refractive error

We are conducting research, based on data collected through the 1958 Birth Cohort, with colleagues from the  Institute of Ophthalmology, Kings College London and the University of Hong Kong into genetic influences on myopia.

This work highlights the intertwining between early-life and life course factors in the development of myopia or hyperopia, and in particular that genetic pathways associated with behaviour may contribute to refractive error. It also shows that identification of even small-effect genetic loci can greatly improve knowledge of human disease.

Professor Jugnoo Rahi, Dr Pirro Hysi and Phillippa Cumberland are members of the Consortium for Refractive Error And Myopia (CREAM) conducting meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies of refractive error undertaken in different populations throughout the world. 

Study Team: Jugnoo Rahi (Principal investigator), Phillippa Cumberland and Pirro Hysi