We intend to determine the relative importance of 9 factors on facial shape in 4747 15 year old children using 3D facial scans. The 9 factors are:
1) Biological sex
2) Ethnicity (by comparing with other population groups obtained by Cardiff University)
3) BMI and height
4) Pubertal status
5) Metabolic factors (triglyerides, low density lipids, high density lipids, very low density lipids, cholesterol, fasting insulin, fasting glucose)
6) Breathing disorders (sleep disordered breathing, asthma and atopy)
7) Maternal smoking and alcohol
8) Individual variation.
In a novel approach we will use a multi level Principal Component Analysis (mPCA). This approach will look at each of the factors and determine how important they are individually or collectively in determining facial features. Each facto will explain a % of the total facial variance. The influencing factor effects on the face can be visualised in short videos. This work follows on previous work undertaken on the ALSPAC cohort (Djordjevic J, Lawlor DA, Zhurov AI, Toma AM, Playle R, Richmond S.A population-based cross-sectional study of the association between facial morphology and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescence.BMJ Open. 2013 May 28;3(5)).