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OTTAWA, February 1, 2011  —  The SOMET group (Sherbrooke-Ottawa-Montreal CIHR Emerging Team), made up of experts in physical activity, nutrition, obesity, diabetes and health care decision making, is seeking volunteers to help identify the factors influencing body weight and the appearance of related complications (diabetes, hypertension, etc.) in women.

As part of a series of scientific studies on the factors influencing body weight regulation in women, investigators from the Université de Sherbrooke, University of Ottawa and Université de Montréal (Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal or IRCM) belonging to the SOMET group are joining their expertise and efforts to design and evaluate techniques for preventing and treating obesity and its complications.

In the process, they will study the effects of various combinations of nutritional intervention and exercise on body weight, cardiovascular health and diabetes prevention in overweight and obese women during specific periods of their life when body weight changes are most likely to occur, namely during pregnancy, peri-menopause and post-menopause. They will also attempt to determine the factors that influence how peri-menopausal women make and apply decisions related to attaining and maintaining a healthy body weight.

For more information on the studies, visit: www.health.uottawa.ca/somet/volunteer/index.htm.

The SOMET group, an extension of the MONET group (Montreal-Ottawa CIHR New Emerging Team) created in 2001, is working to develop inter-professional intervention programs that will promote not only weight loss but also the long-term maintenance of healthy weight.

To learn more about the SOMET group and its research initiatives, visit:
www.health.uOttawa.ca/somet/index.htm.