Promoting psychological well-being and preventing distress among pregnant women is an important public health goal. In addition to adversely impacting the mother's health and well-being, psychological distress in pregnancy increases the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes, compromises infant socioemotional development and bonding, and heightens maternal and child vulnerability in the postpartum period. Mindfulness and compassion-based interventions show potential for prevention and early intervention for perinatal distress. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2020
• October 2020

Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and is associated with adverse developmental and long-term health outcomes, including several cardiometabolic risk factors and outcomes. However, evidence about the association of preterm birth with later body size derives mainly from studies using birth weight as a proxy of prematurity rather than an actual length of gestation. We investigated the association of gestational age (GA) at birth with body size from infancy through adolescence. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2023
• January 2023

Epigenetic modifications are associated with hepatic fat accumulation and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, few epigenetic modifications directly implicated in such processes have been identified during adolescence, a critical developmental window where physiological changes could influence future disease trajectory. To investigate the association between DNA methylation and NAFLD in adolescence, we undertook discovery and validation of novel methylation marks, alongside replication of previously reported marks. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2023
• February 2023

DNA methylation has been shown to be associated with adiposity in adulthood. However, whether similar DNA methylation patterns are associated with childhood and adolescent body mass index (BMI) is largely unknown. More insight into this relationship at younger ages may have implications for future prevention of obesity and its related traits. We examined whether DNA methylation in cord blood and whole blood in childhood and adolescence was associated with BMI in the age range from 2 to 18 years using both cross-sectional and longitudinal models. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2020
• November 2020

Complementary feeding induces dramatic ecological shifts in the infant gut microbiota toward more diverse compositions and functional metabolic capacities, with potential implications for immune and metabolic health. The aim of this study was to examine whether the age at which solid foods are introduced differentially affects the microbiota in predominantly breastfed infants compared with predominantly formula-fed infants.  ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2024
• January 2024

Wearable technologies impact upon sexual activity and this influences the decision to adopt the technology ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2020
• March 2020

This study aimed to identify maternal and family factors that may predict increases or decreases in child eating disorder symptoms over time, accounting for... ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2014
• April 2014

The science that interprets the way nutrients and other substances in food affect maintenance, growth, reproduction, health and disease. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Research Topics

Andrew Desiree Gail Kandice Whitehouse Watch and listen to Andrew Silva Alvares Varcin AJ DS GA KJ PhD MBBS, FRACP, MPH, PhD PhD M.Psych (Clinical), PhD Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research at Telethon Kids and University of Western ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Projects

This paper discusses the rising prevalence of allergic disease in children. This review article considers recent findings in the field of paediatric immune... ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2015
• October 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a child's weight and a broad range of family and maternal factors. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2007
• June 2007

Amy Jenny Helen Desiree Professor Catherine Finlay-Jones Downs Milroy Silva Elliott AFJ JA HM DS CE BPsych(Hons), MPsych(Clinical), MHealthEcon, PhD (Clin Psych) BApplSci (physio) MSc PhD MBBS; FRANZCP; CATCAP MBBS, FRACP, MPH, PhD PhD, BSc (OT) ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Projects