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                            
                                            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
- risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms for overweight, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, psychic problems, dementia, and oral health problems,
 - the effects of a long-term physical activity and dietary intervention on these risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms,
 - whether genetic factors, fetal and early childhood growth, and sexual maturation modify the health effects of a long-term physical activity and dietary intervention,
 - the causes of excess use of health care services and associated costs,
 - the effects of a long-term physical activity and dietary intervention on the use of health care services and associated costs, and
 - 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
- 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
 - planning and carrying out long-term physical activity and dietary interventions aimed at preventing common chronic diseases and associated problems since childhood,
 - offering long-term physical activity and dietary interventions to children and adolescents who most likely benefit from such interventions,
 - targeting limited health care resources most appropriately to children and adolescents; and
 - 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
- 
        
                            
                        
Tiina Ikävalko
Clinical LecturerInstitute of Dentistry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        
Mirja Methuen
Clinical LecturerInstitute of Dentistry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        
Jarmo Jääskeläinen
ProfessorInstitute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        
Tomi Laitinen
ProfessorInstitute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        
Mustafa Atalay
Senior University LecturerInstitute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        
Anna Viitasalo
University TeacherInstitute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        Liisa Suominen
ProfessorInstitute of Dentistry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        Ursula Schwab
ProfessorInstitute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        
Aino-Maija Eloranta
Clinical LecturerInstitute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        Taisa Sallinen
Information SpecialistLibrary - 
        
                            
                        
Niina Lintu
University LecturerInstitute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        
Jyrki Ågren
University LecturerInstitute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences 
Technicians
Supporting Staff
- 
        
                            
                        
Merja Atalay
Office SecretaryInstitute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        
Leena Saario
Project ControllerFinancial Services, University Services - 
        
                            
                        
Panu Karjalainen
Sports CoordinatorInstitute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences 
Research Nurses
Other group memebers (UEF)
- 
        
                            
                        
Mirja Methuen
Clinical LecturerInstitute of Dentistry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences - 
        
                            
                        
Sanna Kettunen
Postdoctoral ResearcherA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences 
Other group members
- 
                                            Kai Savonen
 - 
                                            David Laaksonen
 - 
                                            Eero Haapala
 - 
                                            Aapo Veijalainen
 - 
                                            Matti Närhi
 - 
                                            Sonja Soininen
 - 
                                            Aino Mäntyselkä
 - 
                                            Virpi Sidoroff