Director of Postdoctoral Research Education (2018)
School of Medicine, Pediatrics
Epidemiology, Research Methods and Design, Grant Writing, Evaluation of Literature
Research
My research examines the pathway towards establishing health behaviors (i.e., sleep, diet, physical activity, screen time) and how these health behavior patterns may lead to cardiometabolic disease. Specifically, I have a strong interest in women’s health, in particular examining sex differences in health behaviors such as diet, activity, and sleep on cardiometabolic health. As a maternal and child health epidemiologist, I have studied how maternal factors and behaviors during pregnancy influence offspring health behaviors and ultimately impact pediatric risk for obesity and other cardiometabolic disease states (insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease). I use observational methods to first identify key associations with health behaviors and disease risk, and then use these findings to guide intervention strategies with potential for widespread dissemination and implementation. My current research is extending my methodology expertise by utilizing the tool of metabolomics as an early indicator of cardiometabolic diseases. Utilizing this advanced tool, I will be able to identify biomarkers involved in pathways that may be modified by health behavior change. My research experience has me well-positioned to contribute expertise in health behavior change, chronic disease risk in pediatric populations, and development of behavioral intervention strategies to prevent cardiometabolic diseases in youth.
Publications and Presentations
Kaar JL, Schmiege SJ, Kalkwarf HJ, Woo JG, Daniels SR, Simon SL. Longitudinal Assessment of Sleep Trajectories During Early Childhood and Their Association with Obesity. Child Obes. 2019 Nov 21. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31750742
Davis SM, Kaar JL, Ringham BM, Hockett CW, Glueck DH, Dabelea D. Sex differences in infant body composition emerge in the first 5 months of life. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Nov 26;32(11):1235-1239. PubMed PMID: 31483758
Tovar A, Kaar JL, McCurdy K, Field AE, Dabelea D, Vadiveloo M. Maternal vegetable intake during and after pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019 Jul 26;19(1):267. PubMed PMID: 31349808
Simon SL, Diniz Behn C, Laikin A, Kaar JL, Rahat H, Cree-Green M, Wright KP Jr, Nadeau KJ. Sleep & Circadian Health are Associated with Mood & Behavior in Adolescents with Overweight/Obesity. Behav Sleep Med. 2019 Jun 20;:1-10. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31218887
Simon SL, McWhirter L, Diniz Behn C, Bubar KM, Kaar JL, Pyle L, Rahat H, Garcia-Reyes Y, Carreau AM, Wright KP, Nadeau KJ, Cree-Green M. Morning Circadian Misalignment Is Associated With Insulin Resistance in Girls With Obesity and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Aug 1;104(8):3525-3534. PubMed PMID: 30888398