Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Regular physical activity reduces the risk for obesity-related chronic diseases, in particular type 2 diabetes. We have found that a person's muscle strength is a physical activity-related variable that reduces the risk for type 2 diabetes risks in overweight individuals. The association between muscle strength and health outcomes has not been extensively studied in overweight youth and the mechanisms for this link remain poorly understood. Some scientists have recently discovered that muscles release protective factors (called myokines) that may explain the reduced risk for chronic diseases in people who exercise regularly. At least three major research questions remain unanswered and will be explored within the next few years in our lab: 1) Is cardiometabolic risk lower among overweight youth with higher muscle strength? 2) Are youth with type 2 diabetes characterized by low muscle strength and an adverse myokine profile? 3) Does resistance training improve cardiometabolic risk and myokines profile of youth with type 2 diabetes? We will use national data to test for an association between muscle strength and type 2 diabetes in children. We will also test for determine if muscle strength and myokines are lower in children with type 2 diabetes. Finally, we will see if improving muscle strength will improve the myokine and type 2 diabetes risk profile in children. The results will broaden our understanding of why some children are at a particular risk for type 2 diabetes and potentially how we can reduce that risk