The study of the adaptations of a fetus to stimuli in the early environment that permanently shape the body’s structure, function and metabolism, is a field known as Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). Within this field, Sarah’s research interests focus around the influence of maternal health and health behaviours before and during pregnancy on the development of the offspring through her work on the Southampton Women’s Survey. Her research has particularly focused on women’s health behaviours, dietary patterns analysis, childhood adiposity and growth modelling methods.
Improving population health and reducing health inequalities through food and nutrition-based initiatives is an important corollary of DOHaD findings. Sarah is involved in research to examine the psychological and socio-economic pathways between the food environment and diets of women and children through her work on the WRAPPED study.