The Goran Lab aims to discover how the body regulates where excess fat is deposited, how increased body fat affects our health, and how this is all regulated during growth and development and across different segments of the population. We are interested in understanding the mechanism linking fat accumulation to risk of diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease, and how this is established early in life from a developmental perspective. We are especially interested in examining how early feeding and dietary sugar affect development of the gut microbiome, obesity, the brain and cognitive function. We are also doing clinical trials to examine how these links can be reversed with novel dietary interventions.

Jones RB Vidmar AP, Wee CP
Timing of Food Consumption in Hispanic Adolescents with Obesity Pediatric Obesity Journal Article
In: vol. 16, no. 7, 2020.
@article{nokey,
title = {Timing of Food Consumption in Hispanic Adolescents with Obesity Pediatric Obesity},
author = {Vidmar AP, Jones RB, Wee CP, Berger PK, Plows JF, Rios C, Raymond JK & Goran MI },
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ijpo.12764},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-12-28},
urldate = {2020-12-28},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
abstract = {Summary
Background
Little is known about the normal eating time periods in adolescents with obesity and how these patterns change throughout development. As the obesity epidemic continues to rise in adolescence, it becomes imperative to understand developmentally appropriate eating behaviours and to create weight management strategies that build on those innate patterns and preferences. The purpose of this study was to determine the most common habitual eating windows observed in adolescents with obesity.
Methods
Participants were 101 Hispanic adolescents (mean age 14.8 ± 2.1 years; 48 male/53 female) with obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile) who were recruited as part of a larger clinical trial. Dietary intake and meal timing was determined using multiple pass 24-hours recalls. Histograms were utilized to determine the natural distribution of percent consumption of total kilocalories, carbohydrates and added sugar per hour.
Results
The majority of total kilocalories (65.4%), carbohydrates (65.3%) and added sugar (59.1%) occurred between 11:00 and 19:00. Adolescents were 2.5 to 2.9 times more likely to consume kilocalories, carbohydrates, and added sugar during the 8-hour window between 11:00 am and 19:00 pm than other time windows examined (all P < .001). The consumption of these calories did not differ between weekdays and weekend (P > .05) or by sex.
Conclusions
In this cohort, more than 60% of calories, carbohydrates and added sugar were consumed between 11:00 am and 19:00 pm, which is concordant with an afternoon/evening chronotype that is common in adolescents. Our findings support this 8-hour period as a practical window for weight loss interventions that target pre-specified eating periods in this population.
},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background
Little is known about the normal eating time periods in adolescents with obesity and how these patterns change throughout development. As the obesity epidemic continues to rise in adolescence, it becomes imperative to understand developmentally appropriate eating behaviours and to create weight management strategies that build on those innate patterns and preferences. The purpose of this study was to determine the most common habitual eating windows observed in adolescents with obesity.
Methods
Participants were 101 Hispanic adolescents (mean age 14.8 ± 2.1 years; 48 male/53 female) with obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile) who were recruited as part of a larger clinical trial. Dietary intake and meal timing was determined using multiple pass 24-hours recalls. Histograms were utilized to determine the natural distribution of percent consumption of total kilocalories, carbohydrates and added sugar per hour.
Results
The majority of total kilocalories (65.4%), carbohydrates (65.3%) and added sugar (59.1%) occurred between 11:00 and 19:00. Adolescents were 2.5 to 2.9 times more likely to consume kilocalories, carbohydrates, and added sugar during the 8-hour window between 11:00 am and 19:00 pm than other time windows examined (all P < .001). The consumption of these calories did not differ between weekdays and weekend (P > .05) or by sex.
Conclusions
In this cohort, more than 60% of calories, carbohydrates and added sugar were consumed between 11:00 am and 19:00 pm, which is concordant with an afternoon/evening chronotype that is common in adolescents. Our findings support this 8-hour period as a practical window for weight loss interventions that target pre-specified eating periods in this population.
Berger PK Schneider-Worthington CR, Goran MI & Salvy S-J
In: vol. 16, no. 6, 2020.
@article{nokey,
title = {Concurrent and prospective relationships between maternal BMI, feeding practices and child eating response among Hispanic mothers and children Pediatric Obesity},
author = {Schneider-Worthington CR, Berger PK, Goran MI & Salvy S-J},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33225624/},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-11-23},
urldate = {2020-11-23},
volume = {16},
number = {6},
abstract = {Summary
Background
Parents play a key role in shaping children's eating behaviours and self-regulation. There is limited data on how maternal weight influences feeding practices in the first year of life.
Objective
To examine the relationships between maternal BMI, feeding practices and infant eating behaviours related to self-regulation.
Methods
Participants were 160 mother-infant dyads. A longitudinal design was used to examine concurrent and prospective associations between maternal 6-month postpartum BMI, mothers' feeding practices at 6 months (Infant Feeding Practices Questionnaire) and children's eating behaviours at 6 months (Baby Eating Behaviour Questionnaire) and 12 months (Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire).
Results
Higher maternal BMI was associated positively with mothers' use of restrictive feeding practices (β = 0.036, p = 0.033), and inversely with responsivity to infant satiety cues (Spearman partial r = −0.249, p = 0.002) at 6 months. Mother's restrictive feeding practices were associated with infant food responsiveness (β = 0.157, p = 0.009) and emotional overeating (β = 0.118, p = 0.005) at 12 months. Maternal use of responsive feeding practices was associated with lower infant food responsiveness at 6 months (Spearman partial r = −0.173, p = 0.031) and lower emotional overeating at 12 months (Spearman partial r = −0.183, p = 0.022).
Conclusions
Our findings add to studies suggesting that feeding practices can provide mechanistic pathways in the intergenerational transmission of obesity. Postpartum family-system approaches focusing on maternal health while integrating infant feeding guidance may confer benefits in improving maternal-child health.
},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background
Parents play a key role in shaping children's eating behaviours and self-regulation. There is limited data on how maternal weight influences feeding practices in the first year of life.
Objective
To examine the relationships between maternal BMI, feeding practices and infant eating behaviours related to self-regulation.
Methods
Participants were 160 mother-infant dyads. A longitudinal design was used to examine concurrent and prospective associations between maternal 6-month postpartum BMI, mothers' feeding practices at 6 months (Infant Feeding Practices Questionnaire) and children's eating behaviours at 6 months (Baby Eating Behaviour Questionnaire) and 12 months (Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire).
Results
Higher maternal BMI was associated positively with mothers' use of restrictive feeding practices (β = 0.036, p = 0.033), and inversely with responsivity to infant satiety cues (Spearman partial r = −0.249, p = 0.002) at 6 months. Mother's restrictive feeding practices were associated with infant food responsiveness (β = 0.157, p = 0.009) and emotional overeating (β = 0.118, p = 0.005) at 12 months. Maternal use of responsive feeding practices was associated with lower infant food responsiveness at 6 months (Spearman partial r = −0.173, p = 0.031) and lower emotional overeating at 12 months (Spearman partial r = −0.183, p = 0.022).
Conclusions
Our findings add to studies suggesting that feeding practices can provide mechanistic pathways in the intergenerational transmission of obesity. Postpartum family-system approaches focusing on maternal health while integrating infant feeding guidance may confer benefits in improving maternal-child health.
Plows JF Berger PK, Jones RB
In: vol. 112, no. 6, pp. 1516–1522, 2020.
@article{nokey,
title = {Associations of Maternal Fructose and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage and Juice Intake During Lactation With Infant Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 24 Months Am J Clinical Nutrition},
author = {Berger PK, Plows JF, Jones RB, Alderete TL, Rios C, Pickering TA, Poulsen M, Fields DA, Bode L, Peterson BS & Goran MI },
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqaa255},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-10-06},
urldate = {2020-10-06},
volume = {112},
number = {6},
pages = {1516–1522},
abstract = {Background
Our prior studies revealed that infant somatic growth is influenced by fructose in breast milk, and fructose in breast milk is increased in response to maternal sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake in lactation. It is unknown whether infant neurodevelopmental outcomes are also influenced by maternal SSBs in lactation.
Objectives
To determine whether infant cognitive development at 24 postnatal months was influenced by maternal fructose consumption during lactation, and whether this relation persisted after accounting for maternal SSB and juice (SSB + J) intake.
Methods
Hispanic mother–infant pairs (n = 88) were recruited across the spectrum of prepregnancy BMI. Mothers completed two 24-h dietary recalls at 1 and 6 postnatal months, and reported breastfeedings per day. The Bayley-III Scales of Infant Development were administered at 24 postnatal months to assess infant cognition. Linear regressions were used to examine associations, reported as unstandardized (B) coefficients, 95% CIs, and P values.
Results
Mothers consumed 1656 ± 470 kcal, 21.8 ± 12 g fructose, and 2.5 ± 2.6 servings SSBs + J, and reported 6.9 ± 2.1 breastfeedings per day at 1 postnatal month. Controlling for maternal age, prepregnancy BMI, education level, kilocalories, infant age, sex, and birthweight revealed that infant cognitive development scores at 24 postnatal months correlated inversely with maternal fructose consumption at 1 postnatal month (B = −0.08; 95% CI = −0.13, −0.03; P < 0.01). The association of infant cognitive development scores with maternal fructose consumption was no longer significant after adjustment for maternal SSB + J intake (B = −0.05; 95% CI = −0.10, 0.00; P = 0.07), whereas maternal SSB + J intake was significant in the same model (B = −0.29; 95% CI = −0.52, −0.05; P = 0.02). Infant cognitive development scores were not associated with maternal fructose and SSB + J consumption at 6 postnatal months.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that infant neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 postnatal months can be adversely influenced by maternal fructose intake in early lactation, and this could be attributed to maternal SSB + J intake.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Our prior studies revealed that infant somatic growth is influenced by fructose in breast milk, and fructose in breast milk is increased in response to maternal sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake in lactation. It is unknown whether infant neurodevelopmental outcomes are also influenced by maternal SSBs in lactation.
Objectives
To determine whether infant cognitive development at 24 postnatal months was influenced by maternal fructose consumption during lactation, and whether this relation persisted after accounting for maternal SSB and juice (SSB + J) intake.
Methods
Hispanic mother–infant pairs (n = 88) were recruited across the spectrum of prepregnancy BMI. Mothers completed two 24-h dietary recalls at 1 and 6 postnatal months, and reported breastfeedings per day. The Bayley-III Scales of Infant Development were administered at 24 postnatal months to assess infant cognition. Linear regressions were used to examine associations, reported as unstandardized (B) coefficients, 95% CIs, and P values.
Results
Mothers consumed 1656 ± 470 kcal, 21.8 ± 12 g fructose, and 2.5 ± 2.6 servings SSBs + J, and reported 6.9 ± 2.1 breastfeedings per day at 1 postnatal month. Controlling for maternal age, prepregnancy BMI, education level, kilocalories, infant age, sex, and birthweight revealed that infant cognitive development scores at 24 postnatal months correlated inversely with maternal fructose consumption at 1 postnatal month (B = −0.08; 95% CI = −0.13, −0.03; P < 0.01). The association of infant cognitive development scores with maternal fructose consumption was no longer significant after adjustment for maternal SSB + J intake (B = −0.05; 95% CI = −0.10, 0.00; P = 0.07), whereas maternal SSB + J intake was significant in the same model (B = −0.29; 95% CI = −0.52, −0.05; P = 0.02). Infant cognitive development scores were not associated with maternal fructose and SSB + J consumption at 6 postnatal months.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that infant neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 postnatal months can be adversely influenced by maternal fructose intake in early lactation, and this could be attributed to maternal SSB + J intake.
The Hidden Dangers of Sugar that are Putting Your Child’s Health at Risk and What You Can Do
Authors Micheal Goran and Emily Ventura explain the hidden danger sugar poses to a child’s development and health, and offer parents an essential 7- and 28-day “sugarproof” program.
Dietary Sugars and Health
Edited by Michael I. Goran, Luc Tappy, Kim-Anne LiM
Childhood Obesity
Causes, Consequences, and Intervention Approaches
Edited by Michael I. Goran
Goran Lab
4650 Sunset Boulevard
Mailstop 178
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Investigator
Michael I. Goran
goran@usc.edu
Impact of sugars and human milk oligosaccharides on infant microbiome and obesity
/0 Comments/in Current Research, Research Projects /by Academic Web PagesNutrigenetic intervention to reduce liver fat in Hispanics
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/0 Comments/in Current Research, Research Projects /by Academic Web PagesHuman milk oligosaccharides, gut microbiome and obesity in infants
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