Population Health Section:
The department aims to fill the research need in all aspects of community health related to lifestyle and health such as physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, nutrition and mental health. The department also aims to enhance research related to lifestyle, health, and non-communicable diseases to search for methods of prevention and non-pharmaceutical treatment in a way that serves the interest of the individual and thus society.
Laboratories contain a variety of equipment to perform different procedures as discussed below. Section members are also trained to provide research consultations for population health research at all stages, from survey studies to clinical studies.
Services Provided:
- Conducting physiological measurements and providing appropriate consultations.
• Provide high-level training in lifestyle research skills to promising researchers, academic staff, postgraduates, residents, internships and graduate students.
- Research cooperation in the field of Population Health (whether in laboratories or through field research).
• Providing public awareness for internal and external entities and encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors.
• Participate in transferring knowledge related to lifestyle and health research by including it in systematic and extracurricular training programs in schools and universities.
• Providing scientific evidence for public health programs and developing strategies and systems related to lifestyle behaviors and obesity.
Available Devices:
1- Cardiopulmonary & metabolic function equipment:
- Fully automated desktop cardiopulmonary and metabolic assessment system with canopy for the assessment of resting energy expenditure and metabolic rate
- Two complete telemetry gas analyser systems using breath-by‐breath technology with GPS receiver
- Research grade treadmill with safety harness
- Several bicycle ergometers, including recumbent ergometer and special ergometer for testing children
- 12-lead resting electrocardiogram
- 3-lead exercise electrocardiogram
- Heart rate variability testing devices
- Vital sign automated system for resting blood pressure, temperature and pulse rate.
- Automated external defibrillator (AED)
- Semi-private exam area for phlebotomy
2- Musculoskeletal function equipment:
- Isokinetic machine employing concentric, eccentric and isometric all joints strength measurements
- Digital grip dynamometers for testing children and adult grip strength
- Jump assessment system with digital reading for testing vertical jump ability (muscular power).
3- Body composition equipment
- Dual-energy x-ray densitometry (DXA scan) for bone density and visceral fat assessment
- Segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for the noninvasive assessment of lean body mass, fat mass and body compartment water content
- Skinfolds callipers (both Harpenden and Lange types)
- Stadiometers and research grade weighing scales
4- Balance and reaction time equipment:
- Stability platform for measurement of balance during dynamic movement
- Whole body digital reaction time measuring device with visual and sound stimuli
5- Flexibility, anthropometric and blood assessment equipment
- Biometric multi-joint range of motion kit, including large and small goniometers
- Portable flexibility boxes for sit and reach flexibility test
- Private room fully equipped with complete anthropometric kit for assessment of body length, breadth & circumference, including caliber for measurement of abdominal sagittal dimeter
- Research grade portable lactate analyzer meters for measurement of lactate from capillary sample
- Research grade portable glucose meters for measurement of blood sugar form capillary samples
- Research grade portable haemoglobin meter
6- Physical activity & sedentary behaviours assessment equipment
- Research grade portable accelerometers for the assessment of physical activity
- Research grade portable miniature accelerometers used specifically for the assessment of sedentary and sleep behaviors
