Teen Food and Development (FAD) Study

Study Description

Research has shown that overweight/obesity and early occurrence of puberty have implications in future (adult) health of adolescents. The Department of Nutrition is interested in exploring further the relationships between dietary exposure during childhood/adolescence and physical and pubertal development.

Objectives

To determine what nutrients, foods, and food groups are associated with age at onset of puberty, rate of pubertal development, and physical stature.

Eligible subjects, boys and girls in grades 7-12 have been recruited from selected schools in the Inland Empire. Consent was obtained from the subject’s parents through an online parental consent form. Data is being collected from enrolled subjects by means of an online food frequency questionnaire on current dietary consumption, a questionnaire on pubertal development for boys and another for girls, and a questionnaire on past dietary consumption. Anthropometric data including height, weight, and waist/hip measurements are being collected at clinics held on campus at each of the participant schools. A total of 800 subjects will be enrolled in this study. A small group of students is also currently participating in a sub-study. About 3 times over one month, these students are asked to report their dietary intake for the day by utilizing mobile phones to take pictures of their meals.  

Additional information about the study can be found at www.teenfadstudy.org.