Weighty future in store for pre-term babies
Parents of premature babies need to be extra vigilant in ensuring their children eat a good diet and remain active, with researchers today revealing a link between pre-term birth and weight-related health complications in later life.
Parents of premature babies need to be extra vigilant in ensuring their children eat a good diet and remain active, with researchers today revealing a link between pre-term birth and weight-related health complications in later life.
Wayne Cutfield, Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at the Liggins Institute, Auckland, told attendees at the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) conference in Adelaide that: ‘Research reveals that babies born before 32 weeks are at an increased risk of developing metabolic disease in later life.’
‘Furthermore, adults who were born preterm tend have children who are more likely to be overweight, suggesting the effects of prematurity may extend to the next generation as well,’ he added.
‘We are trying to understand what the triggers and mechanisms are that lead to these long-term changes in the health of babies born preterm. A likely contributing factor are differences in the gut bacteria of preterm children. Studies have shown that gut bacteria can influence the risk of obesity and diabetes.’
Professor Cutfield noted that pre-term babies have different gut bacteria than those who are born at full-term and it appears that these differences are also present in late childhood.
Professor Cutfield’s research includes multiple studies involving first born children, as well as pre-term and overdue children, and explores the relationship between early life events and later risk factors for obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
‘Our health and well-being in utero influences our health lifelong. It is a special time in which we were all vulnerable. Fetal health is delicately poised and when there are shifts away from an optimal fetal environment there are increasing risks of later diseases such as diabetes and heart disease,’ he said.
‘The health, well-being and care of expectant mothers and fathers, and for mothers throughout pregnancy, are paramount. While the gestational period is largely controlled by our genes, we know that when equipped with the right knowledge and support, expectant parents can take positive steps to optimise their pregnancy and the long-term health outcomes for their child.
‘The first 1,000 days of a child’s life, those being the months leading up to conception, throughout pregnancy and into toddlerhood, is a critical period for establishing the child’s long-term health and we strongly encourage parents to invest in it.
Positive lifestyle choices before and during pregnancy around a healthy balanced diet consisting of plenty of leafy greens, limiting alcohol consumption, moderate exercise and sensible maternal weight gain can have a profound impact on the health prospects of the child, he said.
‘The message is simple – modify the early care of children and improve their chances of a healthier life.’
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MORE WOMEN NEED TO TELL THEIR INVESTMENT STORIES
Successful women investors and entrepreneurs need to stand up and be counted if diversity is to be encouraged in the heavily male dominated field of private equity and leveraged transactions
Successful women investors and entrepreneurs need to stand up and be counted if diversity is to be encouraged in the heavily male dominated field of private equity and leveraged transactions the 2016 New Zealand Private Equity & Venture Capital Association’s (NZVCA) Workshop on Women in Growth Capital was told (23rd May).
Chania Rodwell, director, Helmsman Capital, Sydney says: `We do have to drive recruitment to private equity. It can appear less attractive than some of the other alternatives open to female applicants. It helps if women working in the industry build recognition to break down the misconceptions and help others to see the opportunities.’
Chania joined private equity firm Helmsman Capital, in September 2008 following 12 years working in the audit, recovery, restructuring and business advisory practices of KPMG and subsequently McGrathNicol Corporate Advisory in Australia and London. She has been acting as CFO of the Aviator Group, one of the companies in Helmsman Capital's portfolio, since October 2013.
Chania is involved in Ladies in Leverage which was set up over 12 years ago to support women involved in private equity, venture capital and associated sectors including finance, legal, banking, accounting and superannuation in Australia. The association now boasts over 200 members.
Chania is also part of a pilot mentoring programme for women in PE and says: `I’ve learned a few key lessons. You may get offered roles or opportunities that you would be good at but that may not be in your best interest long term. You should make your own choices, not follow what other people want you to do. Life is too short to worry about what might go wrong – follow what interests you. Listen to your fans, the people who believe in you and make you feel good about yourself - you will achieve your best for them. And don’t be so hard on yourself. In respect of work-life balance – you can’t do it all, but that’s OK, be happy with what you choose.’
For Andrea Miller, CEO, Breathe Easy Therapeutics her daughter’s cystic fibrosis provided the motivation she needed.
She says: `I have skin in the game and a lot to lose. My daughter was ill and simply wishing for good health was not enough. Entrepreneurship is an attitude. It’s about doing the right things and doing them right.’
Cystic Fibrosis is a chronic genetic illness affecting the lungs and digestive systems of approximately 75,000 children and adults worldwide. Breathe Easy Therapeutics is developing an inhaled medicine called Citramel, which is expected to be positioned as a core therapy to improve lung function and to potentially enhance the effectiveness of other inhaled CF therapies such as antibiotics.
She explains: `We’ve been figuring out for the last three years how to take it from the test tube to the bedside. We raised over $600,000 through Snowball Effect in New Zealand’s first wholesale investor/equity crowdfunding co-investment opportunity. We had already raised over $1 million from the NZ angel investor community, Pacific Channel, and the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF). We’re just about to start an approved Phase IIa (safety and efficacy in humans) clinical trial of Citramel in New Zealand.’
Norah Barlow, the former CEO of retirement village operator Summerset Holdings and now an independent director says: ` It’s a really good time to be a woman in governance – diversity is needed. I want to see women have more choice in what they do in business. Although I’ve never felt there was problem being a woman, I do see that for some guilt is an issue. I was lucky, I had my children early. There is more pressure but you can strive to be what and who you are. See value in your other skills. See value in building relationships and networking.
‘There is a very real difference between governance and management. You need to work more through others. Measure what’s done. Motivate people. Discover other ways of uncovering the truth. While CEO and board connection is vital, a board needs to engage with management at all levels and openness is vital.’
Norah established her own accountancy practice Barlow and McCormack in 1992, before moving to Summerset as its accountant in 1999. She became chief executive of Summerset in 2001, leading the company in its initial public offering in late 2011. At the time she was the only female chief executive of a listed company on the NZX50.
She has been president of the Retirement Village Association and chaired the committee which developed the Code of Practice for retirement villages in New Zealand. Norah also serves on the board of ASX-listed Ingenia Communities, as well as Cigna Life Insurance.
NZVCA CEO Colin McKinnon says: `Investing in growing businesses takes courage, skill and experience. To build scale it helps to lean on experienced and sophisticated investors and entrepreneurs. Together with our supporting organisations we were pleased to bring together some leading women who are connecting and investing in growth businesses.’
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