Confirmation of Candidature - Candidate : Brenton Horne

In Australia, the most recent data suggests that almost a quarter of children aged 5 to 17 are overweight or obese. Childhood obesity and overweight is a major risk factor for school absenteeism, poor academic performance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, among other issues. The overall objective of this study is to identify new parental risk factors for the condition, along with mediating factors by which these risk factors lead to increased obesity and overweight risk, and protective factors that can reduce the odds of children developing childhood obesity or overweight when these risk factors are affecting them. The risk factors addressed in the research questions that direct this study include parental alcohol consumption, parental stress, parental gambling, parents working outside standard childcare hours, maternal prenatal medication use and maternal prenatal dietary exclusion.

The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children will be used to test for a relationship between these risk factors and childhood obesity and overweight risk. Each wave will be individually fitted with a linear model with the child's BMI z-score treated as the outcome variable and known risk factors and the risk factor under investigation treated as independent variables. Waves will also be individually fitted with a multinomial logistic model with the child's weight
status treated as the outcome variable and known risk factors and the risk factor under investigation treated as independent variables. Generalized estimating equations will also be fitted to all waves collectively with similar outcome variables and independent variables. Mediation analysis for the proposed mediating factors and moderation analysis for the proposed protective factors will be conducted using the Hayes technique of mediation and moderation analysis.

Fetal origins of adult disease and developmental origins of health and disease served as the theoretical framework for this study. It is expected that this research will help fill important gaps in the understanding of the aetiology of childhood obesity and overweight and perhaps lead to more effective public policies that are aimed at combating it.

Keywords: childhood obesity and overweight, fetal origins of adult disease, developmental

For more information, please email the Graduate Research School or phone 0746 311088.