Child and adolescent health promotion

The Child and Adolescent Health Promotion group studies childhood obesity and related complications, and also focuses on celiac disease, intestinal disorders, and autoimmune diseases in children.

The group consist of a team of senior researchers and PhD students with expertise from the fields of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and health promotion. The research group is located at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and the University Consortium of Seinäjoki.

The Child and Adolescent Health Promotion group participates in several major national and international research consortiums that aim to find triggers and possible interventions for common autoimmune diseases, childhood obesity and its comorbidities. 

Improving diagnostics and treatment of obesity-related comorbidities in healthcare

• Prevalence, temporal trends and risk factors for obesity-related comorbidities (especially prediabetes, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
• Natural history of MASLD and T2D in children.
• Implementation of screening and diagnostics of MASLD and T2D in healthcare, as well as effectiveness of current treatment and follow-up strategies.
• Improving screening, treatment and follow-up strategies by developing probabilistic models to optimize screening and identifying novel biomarkers for screening and predicting disease progression.

Disease prevention by interventions and changes in societal level

• Early risk factors for obesity, prediabetes/type 2 diabetes and MASLD the “DOHaD” (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease) hypothesis
• Studying the effectiveness of earlier gestational lifestyle interventions for preventing offspring obesity and metabolic comorbidities. Identifying research gaps
• Studying dietary and exercise habits of adolescents and young adults and identifying factors affecting these habits

Early detection and treatment of celiac disease and autoimmune diseases

• Celiac disease screening, early diagnosis and treatment in children
• Prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatment of chronic diseases related to the intestine and nutrition
• Triggers and possible interventions for common autoimmune diseases

Photo: Linnea Aitokari

Understanding the pathophysiology and natural history of obesity related metabolic abnormalities to promote optimal treatment and prevention strategies in children.