Nutrition, growth and health in pre-school children (Growing Well study)

Start date: 1 March 2025
End date: 2 February 2028
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Value: £2.5million
Partners and collaborators: School of Food Science & Nutrition, Queen Mary University of London
Primary investigator: Prof Janet Cade and Dr Diane Threapleton Food, Science and Nutrition
Co-investigators: Dr Darren C Greenwood, Professor Marion Hetherington, Professor Peter Day, Nigel Simpson, Elizabeth Doxford-Hook
External co-investigators: Dr Mark Hopkins, University of Leeds, School of Food Science and Nutrition, Dr Stamatina Iliodromiti, Queen Mary University of London;

Description

The Growing Well study aims to understand more about eating habits of children aged 1-5 years old, and how this affects their growth and dental health. We also want to find age-appropriate food and drink portion sizes. We will collect data on what children from Leeds, Doncaster and East London eat and measure their growth over the year. We will also assess dental health to understand how growth and dental health are influenced by nutrient intakes and identify how much of different foods children should be eating for their age. We will look at how sub-optimal intakes in vulnerable groups may be improved, developing guidelines to help parents and policy-makers. We will also investigate how optimum growth can be supported for children following vegetarian, vegan and other non-dairy diets. New guidance will be provided on caring for children’s teeth.

Downloads

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/prp-37-01-06-nutrition-early-years-years-1-5-research-specification