Ola Tuputupua’e (Growing Up)
Supported by: National Institutes of Health, Downs International Health Student Fellowship, Yale University, Brown University.
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Key Study Outcomes
Since 2015 the Ola Tuputupua’e study has been following >500 families in Samoa to understand risk of malnutrition and chronic disease risk in Samoan children. Key outcomes include physical and mental wellbeing.
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Measures.
We examine risk factors for chronic disease at the child (individual behaviors), family, household, and community levels. Key foci are the nutritional environment, parenting styles, and school engagement.
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Student Engagement.
Students from Yale, Brown, University of Michigan, Oxford University and more have played a key role in data collection for the Ola Tuputupua’e study. Learn more about our student internship opportunities below.
O au a matua fanau
“Children are the precious offspring of parents” - Samoan proverb
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The Ola Tuputupua’e cohort includes 504 mother (or primary caregiver) and child dyads recruited from 11 villages on the island of ‘Upolu. We recontact each family approximately every two years to invite them to participate in new data collection. The cohort will be 10 years old in 2025!
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Overweight and obesity emerge early in life, but a predominantly traditional Samoan diet is protective
Many households face some level of food insecurity related to changing climate
Almost 20% of 6-9 years olds had evidence of elevated diabetes risk
Prioritizing and protecting mental health is a cohort and community priority
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Please check out our publications! For more information about the study or to explore a potential partnership with the study, please email Principal Investigators Dr. Courtney Choy (courtney.choy@yale.edu) and Dr. Nicola Hawley (nicola.hawley@yale.edu).