Psychological and lifestyle aspects of non-communicable chronic metabolic diseases throughout a lifespan

The study group is interested in spanning and linking the outcomes of both psychological and metabolic health in children and adults. A specific interested is in obesity prevention studies in children, identifying links between lifestyle in general and physical activity in particular with metabolic health as well as with cognitive functioning and quality of life and the sociocultural impact on health. We also study non-communicable chronic metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes throughout lifespan and the transgenerational transmission of both mental and metabolic health including epigenetic changes using the model of gestational diabetes. The impact of stress on both the neuroendocrine responses (hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system) and metabolic health (obesity, gestational diabetes) represents another main focus. Studies are very interdisciplinary in nature, aim to address clinically relevant questions and include both observational and intervention trials. 

Keywords

• Childhood obesity
• Lifestyle and psychological aspects and stress
• Gestational diabetes
• Metabolic and neuroendocrinological responses to stress
• Physical activity and diabetes
• Sociocultural aspects of obesity and diabetes