Grant: Team Grant - India-Canada Collaborative Teams in Childhood Obesity Research

Obesity in Indians is a major health issue both because of the large global population of Indians and their increased risk for obesity-related health consequences like diabetes and heart disease. Rates of childhood obesity and its consequences including high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol are rising with urbanization. Understanding the behavioural and social and physical environmental causes of childhood obesity in Indian children living in diverse settings is an essential step to reducing obesity and improving health in this population whose practices and beliefs may require different solutions than Europeans. This study will evaluate characteristics of individuals, families, schools and communities that are associated with obesity, blood pressure, glucose and lipids in 7-8 and 14-15 year old Indian children living in 3 different settings: rural India, urban India and urban Canada. The findings will be used to develop obesity prevention strategies that are in line with the priorities of the communities involved.