Healthy Start II

Our Journey Continues

Building on the success of Healthy Start I, we began conducting Healthy Start II visits in 2015 with the same children as they began turning 4, 5, and 6 years old. These visits included another body composition measurement, this time using a BodPod device. It also included a short physical exam, blood vessel test, blood draw (to measure blood sugar, insulin, and fats), urine sample, eating behavior tests, dietary recall information, physical activity measurements, and several accompanying questionnaires.

Why so many tests?

Because Healthy Start II was so successful and our participants were so committed, many researchers wanted to use the data we collected to study different health-related topics. Some of these topics include:

• Micro-nutrient intake (specifically Vitamin D)

• Exposure to environmental toxins and chemicals

• Sleep patterns

• Brain development and cognitive function

By studying these areas, we hope to understand more about what affects children's health and development.