The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study´s Profile image

The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study

Research group
01.01.2007 -
Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences
Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences
Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences
Institute of Dentistry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences
Information People

Leaders

The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study is an ongoing controlled physical activity and dietary intervention study in a large population sample of children followed retrospectively since pregnancy and prospectively until adolescence. The study is being carried out at Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Campus, in collaboration with many national and international collaborative partners. The Principal Investigator of the study is Timo Lakka, Professor of Medical Physiology, Specialist of Internal Medicine.

We investigate

  1. risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms for overweight, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, psychic problems, dementia, and oral health problems,
  2. the effects of a long-term physical activity and dietary intervention on these risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms,
  3. whether genetic factors, fetal and early childhood growth, and sexual maturation modify the health effects of a long-term physical activity and dietary intervention,
  4. the causes of excess use of health care services and associated costs,
  5. the effects of a long-term physical activity and dietary intervention on the use of health care services and associated costs, and
  6. the cost-efficiency of a long-term physical activity and dietary intervention in childhood and adolescence.

The results of the study can be utilized in

  1. identifying children and adolescents at increased risk of common chronic diseases, decreased wellbeing, reduced learning and academic performance, and excess use of health care services and associated costs
  2. planning and carrying out long-term physical activity and dietary interventions aimed at preventing common chronic diseases and associated problems since childhood,
  3. offering long-term physical activity and dietary interventions to children and adolescents who most likely benefit from such interventions,
  4. targeting limited health care resources most appropriately to children and adolescents; and
  5. promoting health and wellbeing among children and adolescents at individual and population level.

Read more on our research at http://www.panicstudy.fi.

Keywords

adipokines adolescence adolescents aldosterone arterial imaging arteriosclerosis artery wall elasticity artery wall stiffness artery wall thickness atherosclerosis bioelectrical impedance bioimpedance birth birth weight body fat content body mineral content body mineral density cardiovascular disease carotid ultrasound childhood children depression development diet dietary recording dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry dxa eating behavior ergospirometry exercise exercise test fat mass fat percentage fat-free mass fetal period gene genome-wide association studies glucose glucose tolerance test growth impedance cardiography insulin intervention intima-media thickness lean body mass lean mass lifestyle lipids lipoproteins liver enzymes maximal oxygen consumption maximal oxygen uptake mental problems metabolite profiling metabolomics musculoskeletal disease myokines nutrition obesity osteoporosis overweight oxidative stress physical activity pregnancy prepubertal psychic problems puberal puberty questionnaire redox-regulation respiratory gas analysis respiratory gases school age screen time sedentary behavior sedentary time sex hormones sex steroids sitting sleep sleeping stress stress hormones thyroid hormones trial type 2 diabetes

Leaders

Senior Researchers

Technicians

Supporting Staff

Research Nurses

Other group memebers (UEF)

Other group members

  • Kai Savonen
  • David Laaksonen
  • Eero Haapala
  • Aapo Veijalainen
  • Matti Närhi
  • Sonja Soininen
  • Aino Mäntyselkä
  • Virpi Sidoroff