University of Groningen
The epidemiology of abdominal adiposity
De Lucia Rolfe, Emanuella
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Publication date:
2012
Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database
Citation for published version (APA):
De Lucia Rolfe, E. (2012). The epidemiology of abdominal adiposity: validation and application of
ultrasonography to estimate visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat and to identify their early life
determinants Groningen: s.n.
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Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisors Professor Ronald
Stolk and Dr Ken Ong for their continuous support throughout my PhD. I particularly thank Dr Ken Ong
for his patience, motivation and immense knowledge. I understand that it has been challenging at times
for both of us when I found it difficult to maintain the balance between supporting the anthropometry
operational activities and developing my scientific research work, but we got there in the end!
My sincere thank also goes to Professor Nick Wareham and Dr Rachel Curran for allowing me to pursue
a Part-time PhD, while working in the MRC Epidemiology Unit as the Anthropometry Specialist.
I would also like to thank the following authors, Dr Ruth Loos, Professor Shane Norris, Dr Francis
Finucane, Dr Alison Sleigh, Dr Celine Druet, Professor David Dunger, Dr Nita Forouhi, Dr Ulf
Ekelund, Professor Nick Wareham, Dr Simon Griffin, Professor Neena Modi who contributed to the
papers included in this thesis, for their encouragement and insightful comments. I particularly would like
to thank Dr Soren Brage and Stephen Sharp who patiently taught me the magic world of STATA!
I thank my fellows in the MRC Epidemiology Unit: Dr Rajalakshmi Lakshman, Dr Katrien Wijndaele,
Inka Barnett, Dr Kirsten Corder, Dr Alison McMinn, Kate Westgate, Dr Esther Van Sluijs, Dr Charlotte
Ridgway, Dr Cathy Elks and Dr Luigi Palla. This group has been a source of friendship as well as good
advice and collaboration.
The studies discussed in this thesis would not have been possible without the support of the functional
group at the MRC Epidemiology Unit (the admin, the Field Epidemiology, IT and data teams). I am
particularly grateful to Richard Powell, Ruhul Amin and Rupesh Ghelani, without their help it would
have been difficult to complete this work.
I would also like to thank my fellows, in the Department of Epidemiology (University Medical Center
Groningen), Mireille Edens, Carianne Abée, Hiltje Oute Luttikhuis and Eryn Liem, who always made
me very welcome when working in Groningen.
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Acknowledgments
A special thank to Aukje van der Zee, in the Department of Epidemiology (University Medical Center
Groningen) who has always helped me with administrative practicalities.
I would also like to thank Prof. P.J.J. Sauer, Prof. M. Oudkerk, Prof. M.L. Bots for being the members
of the reading committee of my thesis.
I also thank my closest friends, Rachel and Katrien for keeping me sane during this long journey; and
the friends from the mums’ groups, in particular, Sam, Nicola, Sanna, Martina, Carlene, Tamara, Ellie
and Bennie.
Lastly, I would like to thank my family: my parents, Lorna and Maurizio, particularly my mum, who
always supported me in all my pursuits; my loving husband, Chris, who has been very patient,
supportive and encouraging throughout my PhD; and most of all, my little son, Alessandro, who kept me
smiling during tough times in the PhD pursuit. Thank you!
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