Welcome to the SOMET Research Group
MONET Group (Montreal-Ottawa CIHR New Emerging Team) was created in 2003 when the team received a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The group brings together a team of researchers from the University of Ottawa and University of Montreal in the field of physical activity, nutrition, obesity and diabetes. One objective is to identify the biological, psychological and social factors that influence the critical phases of weight gain in humans. The group also works to develop programs of intervention in order to promote not only the loss but weight maintenance in the long term.
Objectives of the MONET group
- To determine physiological, behavioural and hormonal factors underlying weight fluctuation in women.
- To train a new group of investigators interested in obesity research and women’s health.
The group submitted a new application to the CIHR to continue its research in the field. A new group has been created with the addition of the University of Sherbrooke now known as SOMET team (Sherbrooke-Montreal-Ottawa CIHR Emerging Team). Therefore, SOMET is the prolongation of MONET.
The SOMET team investigate body weight changes in women during periods of their life in which there are major changes in their critical period of body weight regulation (e.g. pregnancy, menopause, older female adult).
Objectives of the SOMET group
During critical periods of body weight changes in women:
- Determine bio-psycho-social, cultural and environmental factors influencing body weight regulation in women.
- Develop and evaluate integrative and timely obesity prevention and treatment approaches.
- Develop and evaluate practical planning tools to promote the adoption of new obesity knowledge and best practice into clinical and community practice.
This set of studies is focused on testing interventions to minimize body weight changes and help women maintain a healthy metabolic profile by using an exercise program and some nutritional intervention.
SOMET Sub-studies involve the pretesting interventions in animal models; better understand the gene-environment interaction; exploring cultural factors influencing women's experiences with body weight; and determining effective approaches for translating research findings for use in everyday practice.
Values of the SOMET Team
- Inter-professional building of knowledge;
- Support and facilitate students’ learning and highly qualified technical staff;
- Bilingual, French/English, interventions and measures;
- Using standardized measures and interventions across studies;
- Combing data across studies with common databank;
- Working together to support each others’ research;
- Being transparent.
