Alejandra Wiedeman

Dr Alejandra Wiedeman postdoctoral research involves studies assessing dietary intake, nutritional status, and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and youth. Dr Wiedeman will investigate the relationship between dietary intakes and biomarker status in children. In addition, she will investigate why children treated with antipsychotic medication develop side effects such as excessive weight gain and other risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Antipsychotic drugs are used to treat a number of serious mental health conditions and can be life-saving. The aim of this work is to find new ways to identify which children are at risk for metabolic complications from second-generation antipsychotics. This valuable information could help clinicians work with families to develop a treatment plan that gives each child the best chance of long-term physical and mental health.