| TermAdiposity peak | MeaningWhen an infant’s BMI is at its highest point. |
| TermAdiposity rebound | MeaningWhen a child’s BMI is at its lowest before it starts to increase again. |
| 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 pressure | MeaningThe force that moves blood through the body. |
| 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. |
| 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). |
| TermLongitudinal | MeaningInvolving information about an individual or group gathered over a long period of time. |
| 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. |
