To fulfill our research agenda, the HWRN conducts research using existing datasets to improve knowledge about the prevalence of overweight/obesity, key risk factors, and obesity-related chronic and secondary health conditions among children and youth with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities.
The HWRN also supports the conduct pilot projects that are designed to prevent or reduce excess weight among children and youth with ASD/DD, examples of which can be found here: link to the funded pilot studies here.
Research networks have the potential to leverage and use resources in economical and innovative ways, and to devote resources to projects that are deemed important by a consensus of well-informed constituents. Participation in a research network can also enhance the work of individual researchers, who stand to benefit from the exchange of information and ideas, learn about and develop new methodologies, and participate in larger interdisciplinary coalitions designed to foster collaborative projects. Accordingly, a final aim of the HWRN is to provide a forum for members to develop collaborative relationships to leverage extramural funding to conduct interdisciplinary research.
Our current projects are listed briefly below.
A research gap: obesity in children with autism and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD)
To be presented at the Obesity Society Meeting November 2-7, 2014. The abstract will be made available here after that time.
Elevated prevalence of obesity among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): the disparity increases across pre-adolescent and adolescent ages
To be presented at the Obesity Society Meeting November 2-7, 2014. The abstract will be made available here after that time.
Elevated prevalence of obesity among children with intellectual disabilities (ID): the disparity increases across pre-adolescent and adolescent ages
To be presented at the Obesity Society Meeting November 2-7, 2014. The abstract will be made available here after that time.
