Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
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

First-years welcomed to the Kovsie family
2017-01-30

Description: Prof Francis Petersen  Tags: Prof Francis Petersen

Newly appointed Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the
University of the Free State, Prof Francis Petersen during
the first-year welcoming.
Photo: Charl Devenish

“How do you like my new blazer? Do you think these stripes suit me?” These were the words of the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State, Prof Francis Petersen, as he took to the stage in his #ProudlyKovsies blazer to welcome the 2017 first-years to the Kovsie family.

The event, which was also the start of the first-year Gateway Programme, took place on Saturday, 21 January 2017, and saw first-years and their parents make their way to the Red Square on the Bloemfontein Campus where they were formally welcomed.

UFS to produce world graduates
As newcomers, Prof Petersen wanted the fresh faces to feel welcome, to feel a sense of belonging. “You are now a Kovsie, and we want you to experience that Kovsie life until you graduate,” he told them.

During his speech, Prof Petersen reassured parents that the academic year would be completed and that the UFS would operate as an institution. He encouraged the students to absorb and gain knowledge and said the university would strive to ensure excellent knowledge. “At the UFS, we want to produce graduates for the world, and we need to ensure that we use our knowledge to uplift society,” he said.

Use differences to benefit from one another
KovsieFM presenters, Tshwaro Thothela and Gontse Choane played host to the gathering and Pura Mgolombane, Dean of Student Affairs, encouraged the first-years to use their differences to benefit from one another and to learn from this opportunity. “Make sure that the good that you do is for yourself, for others and for the university,” he said.

Prof Nicky Morgan, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Rector, welcomed Prof Petersen, his wife Cheslyn, and their two sons, Curtis and Clayton, to the UFS.

The newcomers also had an opportunity to visit their respective faculties and get to know the staff and facilities better.

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept