Objectives

Principal Investigator

Cristina Padez

Objectives

The main purpose of this research group is the study of human biological variation, understood in its widest sense to include patterns of health and disease over the course of the life cycle, with a strong emphasis on social, cultural, and political-economical circumstances as major determinants of this variation. Portugal had an increase in urbanization and experienced major improvements in the population’s standard of living, mainly after the 1960-70s, particularly in terms of nutritional quality and delivery of health care, that still have major impacts on human health and well-being.

Three main areas of research will be the focus of this group:

1. Developmental origins of health and disease. Future research on this topic is based on a large volume of international research that has linked poor foetal and infant growth to adult chronic diseases such as obesity, type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

2. Social, economic and political changes in Portugal during the 20^th century and health outcomes.

3. Growth, obesity, sexual maturation, physical activity and sedentary behaviours in children and adolescents.