Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

It is well known that lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and nutrition are associated with the risk of chronic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. These lifestyle factors are often the target of strategies that affect the majority of adults. It is estimated that a savings of hundreds of millions of dollars annually in health care costs could be realized by 2020 in Manitoba by increasing the number of individuals meeting the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. However, providing one-size fits all recommendations has not been successful, as only 15% of the adult population are meeting the current activity guidelines. There also exists individual differences in the way that people respond to physical activity interventions. Recently, relationships have been found between the level of participation in physical activity, as well as the health benefits attained through activity with the specific genes. As well, the human gut is home to a complex community of over 100 trillion microbial cells. These cells may also influence or be influenced by lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, and thereby also influence the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions. I will explore these complex interactions and how they relate to risk factors for chronic conditions. My research will create information to customize specific physical activity strategies that will hopefully improve the health of Manitobans in a personalized fashion.