| TermAdiposity peak | MeaningWhen an infant’s body mass index (BMI) is at its highest point. |
| TermAdiposity rebound | MeaningWhen a child’s body mass index (BMI) is at its lowest before it starts to increase again. |
| TermAnthropometry | MeaningThe scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body. |
| TermAssociation | MeaningA statistical link or pattern between two or more variables. The term is used where there is no proof that one has an effect or impact on the other. |
| TermAtherosclerosis | MeaningA condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances called plaques. These plaques cause the arteries to harden and narrow, restricting the blood flow and oxygen supply to vital organs, and increasing the risk of blood clots that could potentially block the flow of blood to the heart or brain. |
| TermBlood lipids | MeaningImportant markers of cardiovascular health. Commonly measured and monitored blood lipids are total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc and LDLc), and triglycerides. |
| TermBlood pressure | MeaningBlood pressure is recorded with two numbers. The force at which your heart pumps blood around your body is the higher number, known as systolic pressure. The resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels between heartbeats when blood is pumped around your heart is the lower number, known as diastolic pressure. |
| TermBlue spaces | MeaningUrban areas that feature bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and ponds. |
| TermCausation | MeaningIndicates that one event is the result of the occurrence of the other event; i.e. there is a causal relationship between the two events. This is also referred to as cause and effect. |
| TermConfidence interval | MeaningA confidence interval is a range of values that estimates where the true value of something is likely to be. For example, with a 95% confidence interval, we're confident that if we repeated the test many times, 95 out of 100 times the true value would be within this range. |
| TermData harmonisation | MeaningThe process of making different variables consistent and comparable across different sources or study populations. The goal of data harmonisation is to make it easier to combine and analyse data from different sources, and to reduce the risk of errors or inconsistencies that can arise when working with non-harmonised data. |
| TermDNA methylation | MeaningAn epigenetic modification or biological process by which methyl groups (three hydrogen atoms bonded to a carbon atom) are added to the DNA molecule to modify gene expression. |
| TermEpidemiology | MeaningThe study of the distribution, determinants and patterns of health-related events, states, and processes in populations. It can include for example study of the occurrence and spread of diseases or other factors that influence health. Epidemiology is crucial in identifying and assessing public health issues, developing strategies for disease prevention and control, and evaluating the impact of public health programs and policies. |
| TermEpigenetics | MeaningThe study of all the epigenetic changes in a cell. In other words, understanding how our behaviours and environment can cause changes to the way genes are switched on and off without changing the DNA structure or sequence (the exact order of the four building blocks, or bases, that make up DNA). |
| TermEWAS | MeaningAn Epigenome Wide Association Study (EWAS) investigates the relationship between epigenetic modifications and traits/diseases. Epigenetic modifications can regulate gene activity without altering the DNA sequence. |
| TermExposome | MeaningThe human exposome encompasses exposures to environmental factors throughout life, starting from conception and pregnancy. It refers to the totality of environmental exposures over a lifetime. |
| TermGenome | MeaningThe genome is the entire set of DNA instructions found in a cell. A genome contains all the information needed for an individual to develop and function. |
| TermGreen spaces | MeaningUrban areas that include natural vegetation such as parks, gardens, and street trees. |
| TermGWAS | MeaningA Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) is a research approach that involves scanning the entire genome to help scientists identify genes associated with a particular disease (or another trait). |
| TermHealth trajectories | MeaningHealth trajectories are descriptions (usually represented by lines or curves) of how a person’s health changes as they get older. |
| TermIndependent and dependent variables | MeaningResearchers often manipulate or measure independent and dependent variables in studies to test cause-and-effect relationships. The independent variable is the cause. Its value is independent of other variables in your study.The dependent variable is the effect. Its value depends on changes in the independent variable. |
| TermLatent | MeaningPresent but needing particular conditions to become active, obvious, or completely developed. |
| TermLatent class analysis | MeaningLatent class analysis (LCA) is a statistical procedure used to identify qualitatively different subgroups within populations that often share certain outward characteristics. |
| TermLongitudinal | MeaningInvolving information about an individual or group gathered over a long period of time. |
| TermMetabolic | MeaningMetabolism encompasses all the chemical reactions that take place in an organism (including all of us), collectively known as metabolic pathways. These pathways convert molecules into different products and are essential for the proper functioning and survival of organisms. |
| TermMetabolites | MeaningSmall molecules within cells, biofluids, tissues or organisms. Metabolites are made when the body breaks down food, drugs, chemicals, or its own tissue. Collectively, these small molecules and their interactions within the body are known as the metabolome. |
| TermMetabolomics | MeaningThe study of metabolites or the metabolome. |
| TermMetadata catalogue | MeaningSoftware tool used for managing, organising, and searching the metadata. Metadata is the information that describes the way data was collected. It includes for example details about experimental protocols, sample characteristics, data processing methods, and other information that helps interpret and understand the data. |
| TermMicrosimulation model | MeaningA computer program that creates virtual populations of individuals, each represented by specific characteristics like age, gender, health status, and other attributes. These simulated individuals interact and make choices within their modelled environment, similar to how real people would behave. For example, virtual individuals may choose to seek healthcare, take preventive health measures, or come into contact with infectious diseases based on programmed rules. The model tracks these interactions and generates simulated trajectories and outcomes related to health, illness, disease transmission etc. This can provide insights into potential health scenarios and interventions for the broader population. |
| TermPolygenic | MeaningA polygenic trait is a characteristic, such as height or skin colour, that is influenced by two or more genes. Many polygenic traits are also influenced by the environment. |
| TermPolymorphism | MeaningRefers to the presence of two or more variant forms of a specific DNA sequence that can occur among different individuals or populations. The ABO blood group system is an example of polymorphism, where the A, B, and O alleles result in different blood types. Alleles are different versions of the same gene. |
| TermPrincipal component analysis (PCA) | MeaningA statistical method or data reduction technique that is often used to reduce the dimensionality of large data sets, by transforming a large set of variables into a smaller one that still contains most of the information in the large set. |
| TermP-value | MeaningA measure of the likelihood that an observed effect is due to chance. The p-value is typically set at 0.05, meaning that there is a 5% or less chance of the observed effect occurring by chance. A lower p-value indicates a stronger statistical significance.Statistically significant results may not always be clinically meaningful. For instance, a statistically significant weight loss may not be substantial enough to have a real-world impact. |
| TermRegression | MeaningRegression is a statistical method used to estimate and describe the relationship between a dependent variable (e.g, weight loss) and one or more independent variables (e.g., physical activity). Fitting a line (in linear regression) or a curve (in logistic and nonlinear regression) to the observed data allows for the prediction of the dependent variable (weight loss), based on the values of the independent variables (the amount of physical activity undertaken per week, for example). |
| TermStatistical power | MeaningThe ability of a statistical test or analysis to detect a true effect or relationship when it exists. |
| TermVariables | MeaningMeasurements or pieces of information collected on each study participant, such as height, address, or number of children. |
| Term - Independent variable | MeaningThe independent variable is the variable that a researcher manipulates or controls to observe its effect on the dependent variable. It is also referred to as the exposure variable. |
| Term - Dependent variable | MeaningThe dependent variable is the variable that is measured in an experiment, as it is influenced by changes in the independent variable. It is also known as the outcome variable. |
| Term - Mediator (variable) | MeaningThe mediator is a variable that explains how or why the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable occurs. |
| Term - Moderator (variable) | MeaningThe moderator is a variable that affects the strength and direction of the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable. |
| Term - Confounder (variable) | MeaningA confounder is an unaccounted-for variable that affects both the independent and dependent variables, potentially leading to misleading or biased results in the study. |
| Term - Example of variables | MeaningFor example, physical activity (independent variable) can affect weight loss (dependent variable) through increased energy expenditure (mediator), with the strength of this relationship being influenced by an individual's metabolism rate (moderator). However, diet (confounder) could also influence both physical activity and weight loss, as individuals with healthier diets may be more active and also more likely to lose weight. |
