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25 January 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Sonia Small
Prof Corinna Walsh
Prof Corinna Walsh says the PEA POD Infant Body Composition System works by directly measuring an infant’s body weight and volume, and then uses these measurements to calculate the body fat percentage, fat mass, and fat-free mass.

Nutritional and growth patterns during early life have been associated with health, development, and well-being throughout the life cycle. It is also associated with risks for developing obesity and non-communicable diseases, such as cardiometabolic diseases, later in life. These are the findings of Prof Corinna Walsh, Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Maternal and child health

”In line with national priorities, a strong research focus area of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is maternal and child health,” she says. She goes on to mention that the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics has established a reputable research programme. This programme focuses primarily on the nutritional status of pregnant women and how the early environment to which they are exposed during and after pregnancy affects short- and long-term health outcomes of the offspring.

“In our previous work, the assessment of birth outcomes of infants was, however, limited by the lack of equipment to analyse body composition. The research that we can conduct with the PEA POD® provides us with immense additional potential,” remarks Prof Walsh.

She explains, “The PEA POD Infant Body Composition System is an infant-sized air displacement plethysmography system. It works by directly measuring an infant’s body weight and volume, and then uses these measurements to calculate the body fat percentage, fat mass, and fat-free mass.

According to her, the assessment of body volume takes two minutes. “The PEA POD technique also does not require collection of any fluids and does not expose the infant to radiation. It can be performed as often as required without any risks and be used up to a maximum of 8-10 kg body weight, from birth to about eight months,” she says.

Advanced technology

In the context of research on infant body weight and composition, there is a need for accurate measurement techniques that can differentiate between fat mass and fat-free mass. Prof Walsh is of the opinion that traditional measures such as body mass index (BMI) and weight for length have limitations in this regard, as they do not provide a clear distinction between these components. Furthermore, BMI may not be reliable for assessing adiposity or obesity in paediatric populations, and it can vary significantly with age and gender.

Addressing these challenges, the PEA POD equipment offers advanced technology that allows for highly accurate quantification of infant body composition. This technological capability opens up opportunities to study the effects of early-life nutrition on growth and the developmental mechanisms that may lead to later comorbidities. So, when it comes to researching infant body weight and composition, the PEA POD equipment plays a crucial role in providing precise data and insights.

News Archive

Prof. Letticia Moja leaves the UFS
2009-06-02

Photo: Stephen Collett 

Prof. Letticia Moja (pictured), Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), has resigned from her position to take up the post of Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Limpopo, MEDUNSA Campus.

She will take up her post at MEDUNSA as from 1 August 2009.

“It is with sadness and with appreciation of all the work Prof. Moja has done in the Faculty of Health Sciences that we are making this announcement,” said Prof. Gert van Zyl, Head of the School of Medicine in the Faculty.

Prof. Moja joined the Faculty of Health Sciences in early 2002 to take up the position of Deputy Dean. At this point in time, she made a significant contribution towards alleviating the workload within the faculty and immediately took over some strategic issues from the office of the Dean, including issues pertaining to equity, selection, research and transformation.

She was just settling within the Faculty when the sudden death of the then Dean, Prof. CJC Nel, obliged her to take over as Acting Dean of this Faculty. Prof. Moja acted as Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences for ten months before she was appointed as the Dean on 1 December 2003.

After her appointment, Prof. Moja also obtained her MBA Degree from the UFS and made significant contributions at national and international level. She was recipient of the Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year Award. She was also Chairperson of the National Committee of Medical Deans and was elected Vice-President of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

In addition, Prof. Moja served on a number of accreditation teams, both at national and at health sciences level. She continued with excellent work in the Faculty of Health Sciences and, via the three schools, namely the School of Allied Health Professions, the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing, contributed significantly to the quality of human resources at national level.

The UFS wishes her all of the best with her new endeavours.

Media Release:
Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za
2 June 2009
 

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