Dr Stéphanie Bayol originally comes from Montpellier in the South of France. She has studied and worked in London (UK) for several years before moving to Australia in January 2013. Stéphanie is a molecular physiologist and lecturer in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at Deakin University. Her main research interest is to investigate how maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation influences the development, growth and health of the offspring into adult life. Her research to date has shown that maternal overfeeding (junk food) during gestation and lactation promotes overeating and an exacerbated preference for energy dense foods rich in saturated fat, sugar and salt in the offspring. This leads to offspring obesity and related disorders such as impaired glucose homeostasis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) early into adult life. Offspring born to overfed mothers also exhibit poorly developed skeletal muscles with impaired contractile function. Her research has made important contributions to understanding how maternal malnutrition in pregnancy and lactation initiates obesity and related disorders in the offspring. More information here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFYF8ryiWLo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJuuvGJp2mM http://blog.wellcome.ac.uk/2010/06/22/building-a-baby/