The Impact of PAH Exposure on Childhood Growth Trajectories and Visceral Adipose Tissue

Specific Aim 1: Determine whether the effects of prenatal PAH exposures on childhood adiposity continue into adolescence. Specific Aim 2: Assess the extent to which PAH exposure related increases in weight reflect gains in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Specific Aim 3: Establish whether a cluster of outcomes occurs in adolescence that is characterized by greater adiposity, higher hedonic eating behavior, sedentary pursuits, and poorer neuropsychological function on measures of self-regulation and poorer behavioral and emotional function. Specific Aim 4: Determine whether structural and functional differences can be identified in the children's brains that mediate links between prenatal PAH exposures and these obesity related and neurodevelopmental outcomes in adolescence.