Lifestyle Determinants of Cardiovascular and Bone Health in Women

Dr. Lloyd is responsible for programs in epidemiology research and medical education. The long-term goals of Dr. Lloyd's research programs are to quantify the role of modifiable life style determinants, specifically exercise, muscle strength, body composition changes, and full-term pregnancies in adolescence, on the bone health of the female hip. The focus on the young woman is based on the fact that peak bone mineral density (BMD) for the female hip is achieved in late adolescence. While BMD is roughly correlated with fracture risk, it is not a measurement of bone strength. As there are no known non-invasive measurements of bone strength for the hip, we use dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) techniques to make BMD and structure (geometric organization) measurements in the hips and legs. Thus, simultaneous measurement of changes in BMD and of structure of bone in response to life style factors is being used to approach the larger questions of "What leads to optimal hip strength?" and "What best preserves optimal hip strength?"

Additional research areas include: long-term estrogen resistance acquired during full term teen pregnancy and exercise programs for independent seniors to reduce the risk of falls. Dr. Lloyd is also the Director of the Penn State Clinical Research Scholars Program, an NIH funded program to: 1) train physician-students to be competitive in securing sponsored classical research; and 2) provide opportunities for first- and second-year medical students to learn about and participate in clinical research. Dr. Lloyd also directs the Medical Student Research Program at Penn State.