title: Genotype vs. Phenotype and the Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases: The Importance of Lifestyle Behaviors During Childhood.
abstract: Despite continued research and growing public awareness, the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCD) continues to accelerate. While a person may have a genetic predisposition to certain NCDs, the rapidly changing epidemiology of NCDs points to the importance of environmental, social, and behavioural determinants of health. Specifically, three lifestyle behaviours expose children to important environmental cues and stressors: physical activity, nutritional intake, and sleep behaviour. Failure to expose children to proper gene-environment interactions, through the aforementioned lifestyle behaviours, can and will predispose children to the development of NCDs. Reengineering the environments of children can induce a paradigm shift, from a predominantly biomedical health model of treating symptomology, to a more holistic model based on encouraging appropriate behavioral decisions and optimal health.
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, USC.
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago.
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Skidmore
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Olivia R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Orta
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise, Massey University.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lambrick
authors.affiliation: Sleep/Wake Research Centre, Massey University.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Signal
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise, Massey University.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stoner
keywords: genotype; non-communicable diseases; nutrition; obesity; phenotype; physical activity; sleep