Birmingham Researchers Granted Almost £140,000 To Investigate Obesity In Children, UK

Researchers in Birmingham have just been awarded a grant of almost £140,000 by Action Medical Research - the leading UK-wide medical research charity dedicated to helping babies and children.

The charity has been supporting significant medical breakthroughs for nearly 60 years, and today announced its latest round of funding to top research institutes at universities and hospitals investigating conditions affecting babies and children.

In this latest round of funding, the charity has given £138,762 to the Diabetes Centre, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital and Birmingham University, for a project looking at links between obesity in children and sleep patterns.

Obesity has become a major public health problem. The condition is now affecting children and we know that this will have serious consequences for their health and wellbeing.

An estimated 17 per cent of boys and 15 per cent of girls in the UK aged between two and 15 are classified as being obese. Around 30 per cent of children are either overweight or obese in the UK and many of these cases will continue into adulthood.

Obesity is associated with other conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, breathing disorders, some cancers, infertility, arthritis, depression and can seriously affect an individual's physical and mental wellbeing. There is a major need to understand factors that contribute to obesity so that this serious condition can be prevented and treated effectively.

Action Medical Research funds a total of approximately £3 million worth of research grants every year, with grant rounds in July and November, as well as awarding Research Training Fellowships in February.

None of our work would be possible without the generosity of people who make donations, raise funds and take part in events, as well as our trust and corporate partners. Action Medical Research receives no income from the government or any other statutory source.

Alexandra Dedman, Senior Research Evaluation Manager: said: "At Action Medical Research we are determined to stop the suffering of babies and children caused by disease and disability. We know that medical research can save and change children's lives. The charity finds and funds some of the best medical research in the world for the benefit of babies, children and young people.