The information collected during the ALSPAC study can be used to answer questions that were not even imagined when the study began. One way that scientists attempt to understand complex systems, and our bodies are complex systems, is by observation. Another approach is to perform experiments but experiments with humans is very expensive and so only small numbers of people are studied. The ALSPAC study is different. By recording lots of facts about a great many babies, and continuing to collect facts from them into adulthood, it is possible to spot patterns that would otherwise be missed.

So, we all eat everyday. Indeed, we have to eat often to remain healthy. We don't all choose the same foods and parents certainly don't all choose the same foods for their children and so we can ask if these differences in early diet may influence the growth, development and health of children. The ALSPAC study has a large enough group of children that broad differences in early diet may result in recognisable patterns of growth and health. We are particularly interested to know if the amount of sugar or sweet-tasting foods in early life results in children actively choosing foods that are sweet as they get older. We are also interested to know if these food choices make it more or less likely that children will grow fatter or have a higher risk of diseases like diabetes.