We examine pregnancy weight gain and body composition, as well as early childhood body composition and growth patterns. We focus on maternal factors that influence pregnancy outcomes, along with child feeding environments and child growth.
Awards
FACS Undergraduate Faculty Advisor of the Year Award, 2017, Alex Anderson
CURO Undergraduate Research Award, 2016, Evan Johnson
Participant, Borlaug Summer Institute on Global Food Security at Purdue University, 2016, Marina Tandoh
Holly B. Alley Scholarship, Georgia Nutrition Council, 2016, Nicki Motoyasu
View all Foods and Nutrition Awards
Research Projects
-
Parental Practices Supporting Positive Eating Behaviors during Independent Eating Occasions among Early Adolescent Children (PI: Alex Anderson)
Overall Goal:
To examine factors that influence food choice decisions made by children (10-13 year olds) during independent eating occasions.
Study Design:
Observational study that involves two (2) visits to the research lab and a 24 hours documentation of all child food and beverage consumption in pictures.
Multi-site study (Arizona, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon & Utah)
Participants: Parent/guardian-child pairs
Parenting practices, 24-hour food diary, anthropometric assessment
Funding Source:
Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station
-
Role of Infant Feeding, Childhood Food Habits and Early Childhood Adiposity (PI: Alex Anderson)
Overall Goal:
To investigate the impact of maternal gestational weight and body fat mass gain on infant/child weight and body composition in early childhood with respect to infant feeding practice.
Study Design:
Longitudinal observational study
Participants: Pregnant women and their newborn
Data: Pregnancy anthropometric and body composition measurements, biomedical factors, physical activity, dietary assessment, infant feeding practices and infant anthropometrics and body composition
Funding Source:
Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station
