MSc by Research Student

Course Start: October 2018

Supervisor: Dr Julia Fruer
Supervisor 2: Dr Rebecca Jones

Working thesis title

Acute impact of breakfast consumption and omission on glycaemia and insulinaemia in adolescent girls.

Abstract

Breakfast is often cited as being the most important meal of the day, however, this has not been based upon any consistent scientific findings to date. As we increase our understanding of the relationship between personal lifestyle choice and personal health, it seems logical that we have seen an explosion in the scientific research surrounding the alleged benefits of this meal.  Whilst we understand little about the health implications of composition, frequency and the timing of breakfast, there is evidence to suggest that regular breakfast consumption is associated with a lower BMI, improved cognitive function and general health and wellbeing, amongst other health markers.

In 1913, A. Jacobson observed an increase in blood glucose levels following the ingestion of carbohydrates. In 1921 and 1922, Staub and Traugott confirmed the earlier findings of Hamman and Hirschman who saw an improvement of carbohydrate tolerance following a prior meal. This phenomenon was named ‘The second meal effect’.

Repeated exposure to elevated levels of glucose and insulin increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. Whilst the second meal phenomenon or Straub - Traugott effect has been observed in adults, no studies have yet focussed on the presence of this response in adolescents. As we have seen an increase in the number of cases of overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes in adolescents, it seems that a comprehensive understanding of metabolism in adolescents is essential and well overdue.

Research Questions

• Does breakfast consumption compared to breakfast omission attenuate glycaemic and insulinaemic responses to lunch in adolescent girls. (Is there evidence of a second meal effect in adolescent girls?
• Does adipose status of adolescent girls impact the metabolic responses to breakfast consumption and breakfast omission?

Publications

• Bailey, D.P., Hewson, D.J., Champion, R.B. and Sayegh, S.M., 2019. Sitting time and risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American journal of preventive medicine.
• Bailey, D.P., Withers, T.M., Goosey‐Tolfrey, V.L., Dunstan, D.W., Leicht, C.A., Champion, R.B., Charlett, O.P. and Ferrandino, L., 2020. Acute effects of breaking up prolonged sedentary time on cardiovascular disease risk markers in adults with paraplegia. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.
• Champion, R.B., Smith, L.R., Smith, J., Hirlav, B., Maylor, B.D., White, S.L. and Bailey, D.P., 2018. Reducing prolonged sedentary time using a treadmill desk acutely improves cardiometabolic risk markers in male and female adults.Journal of sports sciences, 36(21), pp.2484-2491.
• Charalambous, L., Champion, R., Smith, L., McGirl, C. and Bailey, D., 2017. The Effect of Prolonged Sitting Versus Use of a Treadmill Desk on Postural Stability. ISBS Proceedings Archive, 35(1), p.100.
• Maylor, B.D., Edwardson, C.L., Zakrzewski-Fruer, J.K., Champion, R.B. and Bailey, D.P., 2018. Efficacy of a Multicomponent Intervention to Reduce Workplace Sitting Time in Office Workers: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 60(9), pp.787-795.

Contact Information

E: rachael.champion@study.beds.ac.uk

M: 07519978349
Twitter: @1969bernie