Ken K Ong
Biographic Data
| ID | 81770 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ken K Ong |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ken K |
| FAMILY NAME | Ong |
| SIGNATURE | ONG K K |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Cambridge |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4689-7530 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 42 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 20 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Normative scores for the three factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ-R18) in a UK population-based cohort
Eating behaviour traits (EBTs), individuals' reactions to food, food-related cues, and food intake, play an important role in the development and maintenance of overweight and obesity. We provide population-based norms for cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating as measured by the Three Factor Eating questionnaire (short form, TFEQ-18) in a UK cohort of middle-aged adults (the Fenland Study). Participants included 7830 indi…
Genome-wide analysis identifies genetic effects on reproductive success and ongoing natural selection at the Fads locus
Associations between abdominal adiposity, body size and objectively measured physical activity in infants from Soweto, South Africa
These findings lend support for higher physical activity as a marker of healthy growth in the first two years of life
No relationship between prenatal or early postnatal androgen exposure and autistic traits
BACKGROUND: Autism is more prevalent in males than in females. Hypotheses related to the extreme male brain theory of autism suggest that heightened androgen exposure during early development contributes to autistic traits. Whilst prior research focused mostly on the prenatal period, the current study tests the influences of androgen exposure during both the prenatal and the early postnatal periods on autistic traits during childhood. METHODS: An…
Adolescent growth and BMI and their associations with early childhood growth in an urban South African cohort
OBJECTIVES: The timing and magnitude of adolescent growth may be influenced by ethnicity and early life factors. We aimed to (a) characterize ethnic differences in the magnitude, timing, and intensity of adolescent growth in height, weight, and BMI; (b) assess the effect of early childhood growth on adolescent growth in black children. METHODS: Data were from the Birth to Twenty Plus cohort (Bt20+) in Johannesburg, South Africa (n = 3273). Height…
Positive maternal attitudes to following healthy infant feeding guidelines attenuate the associations between infant appetitive traits and both infant milk intake and weight
A Novel method for the identification and quantification of weight faltering
OBJECTIVE: We describe a new method for identifying and quantifying the magnitude and rate of short-term weight faltering episodes, and assess how (a) these episodes relate to broader growth outcomes, and (b) different data collection intervals influence the quantification of weight faltering. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We apply this method to longitudinal growth data collected every other day across the first year of life in Gambian infants (n = 124…
Identification of 371 genetic variants for age at first sex and birth linked to externalising behaviour
Which infancy growth parameters are associated with later adiposity? The Cambridge Baby Growth Study
Background: Highly consistent positive associations are reported between infancy growth and later obesity risk. However, it is unclear whether infancy growth parameters beyond body weight add to the prediction of later obesity risk. Aim: To assess whether infancy length and skinfold thicknesses add to infancy weight in the prediction of childhood adiposity. Subjects and methods: This analysis included 254 children with available data on infant gr…
Age at menarche associated with subsequent educational attainment and risk-taking behaviours
Background: Earlier age at menarche (AAM), a marker of puberty timing in females, has been associated with a higher likelihood of adolescent risk-taking behaviours and variably associated with educational attainment. Aim: To examine the association between AAM and educational attainment in the Pelotas, Brazil, 1982 Birth Cohort. Subjects and methods: AAM was categorised as Early (7-11 years), Average (12-13 years), or Late (14+ years). Primary ou…
Gene discovery and polygenic prediction from a genome-wide association study of educational attainment in 1.1 million individuals
Here we conducted a large-scale genetic association analysis of educational attainment in a sample of approximately 1.1 million individuals and identify 1,271 independent genome-wide-significant SNPs. For the SNPs taken together, we found evidence of heterogeneous effects across environments. The SNPs implicate genes involved in brain-development processes and neuron-to-neuron communication. In a separate analysis of the X chromosome, we identify…
Toward Understanding How Social Factors Shaped a Behavioral Intervention on Healthier Infant Formula-Feeding
As part of a process evaluation, we explored in semi-structured interviews the experiences of 19 mothers who had taken part in a trial to reduce infant formula-milk intake and promote healthy weight gain, and reflections of three facilitators who delivered the intervention and control group protocols. Mothers appreciated the nonjudgmental support provided during the trial, after experiencing stigma and receiving limited advice on how, how much, a…
Genetic evidence of assortative mating in humans
Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology
Abdominal fat depots associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome risk factors in black African young adults
In young black South African adults, SCAT appears to be more relevant than VAT to metabolic syndrome traits
Socioeconomic conditions across life related to multiple measures of the endocrine system in older adults
Lower SEP was associated with an adverse hormone profile across multiple endocrine axes. SEP differences in endocrine function may partly underlie inequalities in health and function in later life, and may reflect variations in biological rates of ageing. Further studies are required to assess the likely functional relevance of these associations
Higher maternal education is associated with favourable growth of young children in different countries
BACKGROUND: Childhood growth affects long-term health and could contribute to health inequalities that persist throughout life. METHODS: We compared growth data of 4-year-old to 6-year-old children born 1997-2002 in UK (n=15,168), Sweden (n=6749) and rural China (n=10,327). SD scores (SDS) were calculated against the WHO Growth Standard. Obesity and overweight were defined by the International Obesity Taskforce cut-offs, and stunting, underweight…
Clinical problems in a post war British cohort reaching retirement
Introduction The health of the post war ‘baby boomers’ will dominate the health and social care systems for decades to come. We know little about the prevalence of clinical problems in these postwar birth cohorts. Objectives To describe the prevalence of significant clinical problems at 60–64 years in the Medical Research Council (MRC) National Survey of Heath and Development; to examine whether these problems cluster in the same individuals and …
A novel school-based intervention to improve nutrition knowledge in children
The 'Top Grub' card game facilitated the enjoyable delivery of nutrition education in a sample of UK primary school age children. Further studies should determine whether improvements in nutrition knowledge are sustained and lead to changes in dietary behaviour
Rapid infancy weight gain and subsequent obesity
In a systematic review, we identified 21 separate studies with data on the association between rapid infancy weight gain, up to age 2 y, and subsequent obesity risk. Uniformly all studies reported significant positive associations. We transformed the reported effect sizes to a standard infancy weight gain exposure, and found that further differences in study design accounted for much of the variation in risk. An accompanying paper by Melinda Yeun…
Genetic evidence of assortative mating in humans
Identification of 371 genetic variants for age at first sex and birth linked to externalising behaviour
Genome-wide analysis identifies genetic effects on reproductive success and ongoing natural selection at the Fads locus
Higher maternal education is associated with favourable growth of young children in different countries
BACKGROUND: Childhood growth affects long-term health and could contribute to health inequalities that persist throughout life. METHODS: We compared growth data of 4-year-old to 6-year-old children born 1997-2002 in UK (n=15,168), Sweden (n=6749) and rural China (n=10,327). SD scores (SDS) were calculated against the WHO Growth Standard. Obesity and overweight were defined by the International Obesity Taskforce cut-offs, and stunting, underweight…
Positive maternal attitudes to following healthy infant feeding guidelines attenuate the associations between infant appetitive traits and both infant milk intake and weight
Toward Understanding How Social Factors Shaped a Behavioral Intervention on Healthier Infant Formula-Feeding
As part of a process evaluation, we explored in semi-structured interviews the experiences of 19 mothers who had taken part in a trial to reduce infant formula-milk intake and promote healthy weight gain, and reflections of three facilitators who delivered the intervention and control group protocols. Mothers appreciated the nonjudgmental support provided during the trial, after experiencing stigma and receiving limited advice on how, how much, a…
Socioeconomic conditions across life related to multiple measures of the endocrine system in older adults
Lower SEP was associated with an adverse hormone profile across multiple endocrine axes. SEP differences in endocrine function may partly underlie inequalities in health and function in later life, and may reflect variations in biological rates of ageing. Further studies are required to assess the likely functional relevance of these associations
Rapid infancy weight gain and subsequent obesity
In a systematic review, we identified 21 separate studies with data on the association between rapid infancy weight gain, up to age 2 y, and subsequent obesity risk. Uniformly all studies reported significant positive associations. We transformed the reported effect sizes to a standard infancy weight gain exposure, and found that further differences in study design accounted for much of the variation in risk. An accompanying paper by Melinda Yeun…
A novel school-based intervention to improve nutrition knowledge in children
The 'Top Grub' card game facilitated the enjoyable delivery of nutrition education in a sample of UK primary school age children. Further studies should determine whether improvements in nutrition knowledge are sustained and lead to changes in dietary behaviour
Clinical problems in a post war British cohort reaching retirement
Introduction The health of the post war ‘baby boomers’ will dominate the health and social care systems for decades to come. We know little about the prevalence of clinical problems in these postwar birth cohorts. Objectives To describe the prevalence of significant clinical problems at 60–64 years in the Medical Research Council (MRC) National Survey of Heath and Development; to examine whether these problems cluster in the same individuals and …
Higher maternal education is associated with favourable growth of young children in different countries
BACKGROUND: Childhood growth affects long-term health and could contribute to health inequalities that persist throughout life. METHODS: We compared growth data of 4-year-old to 6-year-old children born 1997-2002 in UK (n=15,168), Sweden (n=6749) and rural China (n=10,327). SD scores (SDS) were calculated against the WHO Growth Standard. Obesity and overweight were defined by the International Obesity Taskforce cut-offs, and stunting, underweight…
Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology
Abdominal fat depots associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome risk factors in black African young adults
In young black South African adults, SCAT appears to be more relevant than VAT to metabolic syndrome traits
Socioeconomic conditions across life related to multiple measures of the endocrine system in older adults
Lower SEP was associated with an adverse hormone profile across multiple endocrine axes. SEP differences in endocrine function may partly underlie inequalities in health and function in later life, and may reflect variations in biological rates of ageing. Further studies are required to assess the likely functional relevance of these associations
Genetic evidence of assortative mating in humans
Gene discovery and polygenic prediction from a genome-wide association study of educational attainment in 1.1 million individuals
Here we conducted a large-scale genetic association analysis of educational attainment in a sample of approximately 1.1 million individuals and identify 1,271 independent genome-wide-significant SNPs. For the SNPs taken together, we found evidence of heterogeneous effects across environments. The SNPs implicate genes involved in brain-development processes and neuron-to-neuron communication. In a separate analysis of the X chromosome, we identify…
Toward Understanding How Social Factors Shaped a Behavioral Intervention on Healthier Infant Formula-Feeding
As part of a process evaluation, we explored in semi-structured interviews the experiences of 19 mothers who had taken part in a trial to reduce infant formula-milk intake and promote healthy weight gain, and reflections of three facilitators who delivered the intervention and control group protocols. Mothers appreciated the nonjudgmental support provided during the trial, after experiencing stigma and receiving limited advice on how, how much, a…
Which infancy growth parameters are associated with later adiposity? The Cambridge Baby Growth Study
Background: Highly consistent positive associations are reported between infancy growth and later obesity risk. However, it is unclear whether infancy growth parameters beyond body weight add to the prediction of later obesity risk. Aim: To assess whether infancy length and skinfold thicknesses add to infancy weight in the prediction of childhood adiposity. Subjects and methods: This analysis included 254 children with available data on infant gr…
Age at menarche associated with subsequent educational attainment and risk-taking behaviours
Background: Earlier age at menarche (AAM), a marker of puberty timing in females, has been associated with a higher likelihood of adolescent risk-taking behaviours and variably associated with educational attainment. Aim: To examine the association between AAM and educational attainment in the Pelotas, Brazil, 1982 Birth Cohort. Subjects and methods: AAM was categorised as Early (7-11 years), Average (12-13 years), or Late (14+ years). Primary ou…
No relationship between prenatal or early postnatal androgen exposure and autistic traits
BACKGROUND: Autism is more prevalent in males than in females. Hypotheses related to the extreme male brain theory of autism suggest that heightened androgen exposure during early development contributes to autistic traits. Whilst prior research focused mostly on the prenatal period, the current study tests the influences of androgen exposure during both the prenatal and the early postnatal periods on autistic traits during childhood. METHODS: An…
Adolescent growth and BMI and their associations with early childhood growth in an urban South African cohort
OBJECTIVES: The timing and magnitude of adolescent growth may be influenced by ethnicity and early life factors. We aimed to (a) characterize ethnic differences in the magnitude, timing, and intensity of adolescent growth in height, weight, and BMI; (b) assess the effect of early childhood growth on adolescent growth in black children. METHODS: Data were from the Birth to Twenty Plus cohort (Bt20+) in Johannesburg, South Africa (n = 3273). Height…
Positive maternal attitudes to following healthy infant feeding guidelines attenuate the associations between infant appetitive traits and both infant milk intake and weight
A Novel method for the identification and quantification of weight faltering
OBJECTIVE: We describe a new method for identifying and quantifying the magnitude and rate of short-term weight faltering episodes, and assess how (a) these episodes relate to broader growth outcomes, and (b) different data collection intervals influence the quantification of weight faltering. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We apply this method to longitudinal growth data collected every other day across the first year of life in Gambian infants (n = 124…
Identification of 371 genetic variants for age at first sex and birth linked to externalising behaviour
Associations between abdominal adiposity, body size and objectively measured physical activity in infants from Soweto, South Africa
These findings lend support for higher physical activity as a marker of healthy growth in the first two years of life
Genome-wide analysis identifies genetic effects on reproductive success and ongoing natural selection at the Fads locus
Normative scores for the three factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ-R18) in a UK population-based cohort
Eating behaviour traits (EBTs), individuals' reactions to food, food-related cues, and food intake, play an important role in the development and maintenance of overweight and obesity. We provide population-based norms for cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating as measured by the Three Factor Eating questionnaire (short form, TFEQ-18) in a UK cohort of middle-aged adults (the Fenland Study). Participants included 7830 indi…
Medicine (13 works) · Internal Medicine (10 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (9 works) · Demography (7 works) · Obesity (7 works) · Pediatrics (7 works) · Biology (6 works) · Psychology (6 works) · Birth, Development, and Health (5 works) · Body mass index (5 works)