I trained as a medical doctor and have been working in paediatrics units in Denmark and Greenland since 2019. Through my professional work, I have been particularly concerned with the field of tension between children’s physical and mental health. In particular, working with vulnerable children and their families drives my professional commitment.
In my clinical work, I have met vulnerable children with eating problems and a tendency towards obesity. Typically, the parents have lacked valid preventive measures and help that allow them to support their child’s healthy weight and mental development. I therefore find Infant Health’s focus on the early prevention of vulnerable infants’ risk of developing obesity and mental health issues extremely relevant. Vulnerable children are at particular risk of obesity, but research has yet to find an effective method of preventing obesity, and the amount of research on infants’ eating habits is generally sparse. For me, the VIPP-PUF effort’s idea of being able to support and strengthen parents’ understanding of their child’s needs is meaningful in that qualified help has the potential to increase children’s ability to develop in a healthy and age-appropriate manner, both physically and mentally.
I have therefore substituted my clinical position with the position of PhD student with Infant Health, and my research project focuses on the efficacy of VIPP-PUF’s efforts in preventing obesity and problematic eating behaviour in vulnerable infants.