Publication of this data is currently deferred.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Genome Instability in Childhood Obesity: Assessment, Monitoring and Intervention.\n
IRAS ID
Publication of this data is currently deferred.
Contact name
Moonisah Bajwa
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
Publication of this data is currently deferred.
Research summary
Childhood obesity remains one of the most serious global public health challenges. According to the Health Survey for England, over the last three years almost a third of the UK’s children aged between 2-15 were classed as either overweight or obese, and the figures are expected to rise. Obese children may develop into obese adults and become exposed to the risk of developing many health complications including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. There is now evidence to suggest that increasing body fat can cause a low grade inflammatory response by recruiting cells from the immune system and causing a fluctuation in chemokines that regulate inflammation. One result of inflammation is the systemic increase in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). ROS/RNS are known to cause mutations in DNA sequences - molecules that carry genetic information for the optimal functioning of cells. Therefore, an increased production of ROS/RNS is concerning because DNA damage is a notorious hallmark of cancer. Recent evidence has suggested that childhood obesity may be an independent risk factor for acquiring cancer in adulthood. The significance of this risk can be determined by carrying out well established molecular tests to analyse the stability and integrity of DNA in obese children. This assessment of genome health would be useful to determine whether monitoring of ‘genome health’ of morbidly obese children could become a useful practise for early disease detection and increasing the rates of survival. The investigation will be conducted in morbidly obese children between ages 11 and 15 years. On one occasion, non-invasive sampling of saliva, cheek swabs and urine will be used to run laboratory tests to identify markers of inflammation and acquired DNA damage. This study will build evidence in the well-established area of genome health and lifestyle interaction. And, it will re-enforce the importance of weight-loss for obese children and provide clinicians with a tool for personalised disease detection and management.
REC name
Publication of this data is currently deferred.
REC reference
Publication of this data is currently deferred.