Physical Activity, Nutrition and Metabolic Health in Children and Adolescents

INSTITUTE FOR SPORT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RESEARCH PhD AND MSc BY RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, NUTRITION AND METABOLIC HEALTH IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

GET IN TOUCH If you are interested in completing a PhD or MSc by Research in any of these areas or a related area, please contact:

E: julia.fruer@beds.ac.uk

Does breakfast consumption versus breakfast omission affect physical activity, dietary intakes and cardiometabolic health outcomes in children and adolescents?

Breakfast is believed to be the ‘most important meal of the day’ and is associated with favourable health outcomes in children and adolescents. Yet, the available evidence on breakfast and health does not allow us to establish cause-and-effect. This project will focus on conducting experimental research to identify whether breakfast consumption can help to improve physical activity levels, dietary intakes and cardiometabolic health (e.g., glycaemic control) in children and adolescents when compared with breakfast omission. The specific nature of the project is open for discussion and development with the research student. CENTRE Breakfast composition and timing in children and adolescents: impact on energy balance and cardiometabolic health outcomes

This project will focus on conducting experimental research to identify whether there is a specific type of breakfast (e.g., macronutrient composition) and time of day that breakfast should be consumed to improve physical activity levels, dietary intakes and cardiometabolic health (e.g., glycaemic control) in children and adolescents. The specific nature of the project is open for discussion and development with the research student.

Improving glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity through physical activity and nutrition in non-overweight, overweight and obese children and adolescents

With childhood and adolescence being an important time of life to target for the prevention of type 2 diabetes, this project aims to identify how manipulations in exercise and nutrition can improve glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity in this under-researched population. The impact of overweight and obesity on the research outcomes will also be investigated. The specific nature of the project is open for discussion and development with the research student.