A Multi-component Supermarket Intervention To Promote Healthy Eating
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,005.00
Summary
Most food in Australia is bought in supermarkets, and so there is a public health imperative for supermarkets to encourage healthy food purchases. This proposal is to conduct a randomised-controlled trial in 10 supermarkets to test the impact of a package of interventions that improve the healthiness of the supermarket environment. Intervention components were chosen by the retail, government and academic partners based on feasibility, sustainability and positive results from our pilot studies.
Harnessing The Power Of Elite Sport Sponsorship To Promote Healthy Eating By Young Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,220.00
Summary
Concerns have been raised about the role of unhealthy food sponsorship of elite sport in promoting unhealthy diets to vast numbers of the public, including young adults who are avid spectators of sport. This innovative project consists of two studies which systematically investigate the utility of alternative, health-oriented sport sponsorship models and counter-advertising strategies in promoting healthier diets among young adults.
Improving Adolescent Gate-keeping And Help-seeking For Risky Drinking And Depression: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$655,495.00
Summary
Young people with mental health and substance use problems are reluctant to seek help. There is a significant gap in health promotion activities which specifically target help-seeking skills, particularly teaching friends to help friends to access treatment early. This project seeks to demonstrate the efficacy of a school-based intervention that focuses on improving adolescent gate-keeping and help-seeking skills for risky drinking and depression, using a cluster randomised controlled design.
Reducing consumption of sugary drinks (or sugar-sweetened beverages) would improve the healthiness of young Australians’ diets. Young Australians drink sugary drinks in high quantities, and they contribute a lot of ‘empty calories’ to the diet. They are also known to cause tooth decay, obesity and diabetes. This study will test the effectiveness of consumer information/warning labels on drink containers in reducing the purchase of SSBs.
Reducing Over Consumption Of Sugar-sweetened Beverages In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,034.00
Summary
Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is associated with excess energy intake, weight gain and obesity. High consumption also causes Type II diabetes, cardio vascular risk factors and tooth decay. Australians, especially young Australians, are high consumers of SSBs, and soft drinks in particular. Bringing experience from tobacco control, this research investigates public health policy mechanisms to reduce over consumption, with a focus on the potential of warning labels.
Reducing Sugar Sweetened Beverages Consumption Among Young Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$671,119.00
Summary
Reducing consumption of sugary drinks (or sugar-sweetened beverages) would improve the healthiness of young Australians’ diets and help protect them from obesity. Young Australians drink sugary rinks in high qualities, and they contribute a lot of ‘empty calories’ to the diet. They are also known to cause tooth decay, obesity and diabetes. This study will test the effectiveness of consumer information/warning labels at point of purchase and on packaging in reducing the purchase of SSBs.
A Randomised Trial Assessing A Shade Development Intervention In Secondary Schools For Adolescent Skin Cancer Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$709,615.00
Summary
Skin cancer is a significant burden to health costs, and morbidity and mortality in Australia. Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight, particularly during childhood and adolescence is an important strategy for preventing skin cancer in later life. Adolescents have been particularly resistant to skin cancer prevention messages. Despite a high knowledge of skin cancer, the majority of Australian adolescents report a reliance on sunscreen, a resistance to hat wearing, and ....Skin cancer is a significant burden to health costs, and morbidity and mortality in Australia. Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight, particularly during childhood and adolescence is an important strategy for preventing skin cancer in later life. Adolescents have been particularly resistant to skin cancer prevention messages. Despite a high knowledge of skin cancer, the majority of Australian adolescents report a reliance on sunscreen, a resistance to hat wearing, and commonly experience sunburn, an important indicator of increased risk of skin cancer. Psycho-social interventions have shown limited influence on adolescents' sun protective behaviours to date. The current research proposal explores an alternative approach to psycho-social interventions for adolescents. The study will assess the effect of increasing available shade at secondary schools. In a randomised control trial study design, the change in the number of students using certain outdoor areas at intervention schools will be observed 'before' and 'after' the installation of built shade sail structures. Our main hypothesis states that the number of students using these newly shaded areas in intervention schools will increase compared with use of equivalent unshaded areas in control schools. Shade development is increasingly becoming an issue for secondary schools and given both the high cost of providing shade structures and adolescents' resistance to other forms of sun protection it is important to establish that adolescents will use this form of sun protection. This study will determine whether adolescents actively avoid or seek shade and so provide evidence for informing decisions about further investment in shade provision in schools.Read moreRead less
The Development Of Overweight And Bone Density Among Adolescent Girls: A 3-year Prospective Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$280,351.00
Summary
Being overweight as an adolescent is associated with many health problems, both during adolescence and throughout the rest of the life span. The proportion of Australian adults who are overweight is increasing rapidly and it appears that overweight is also increasing among Australian adolescents. Unfortunately, little is known about the relative influences of physical activity, sedentary activity and dietary fat intake on the development of overweight among adolescents. Understanding this issue ....Being overweight as an adolescent is associated with many health problems, both during adolescence and throughout the rest of the life span. The proportion of Australian adults who are overweight is increasing rapidly and it appears that overweight is also increasing among Australian adolescents. Unfortunately, little is known about the relative influences of physical activity, sedentary activity and dietary fat intake on the development of overweight among adolescents. Understanding this issue will inform our efforts to prevent the development of overweight and to maintain healthy weight among Australian adolescents. Bone fractures among older adults have a major impact on their overall health, quality of life and capacity for independent and satisfying living. Peak bone strength is reached during adolescence and, although bone strength can be largely maintained though adult life with appropriate diet and physical activity, little can be done to further strengthen bones during adulthood. The goal of public health is to foster the development of maximum bone strength among adolescents in order to reduce the severity of osteoporosis among the older adults of the future. Our understanding of the factors which influence the development of maximum bone strength is inadequate to the task of designing programs and interventions intended maximise bone strength among the current generation of adolescents. This proposed study is intended to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the development of overweight and bone strength among adolescents. As our understanding of these health issues improves we will be able to make more effective contributions to the health of the Australian population, both during adolescence and across the lifespan.Read moreRead less
Exploring The Potential For Built Environment Intervention To Improve Adult And Child Physical Activity And Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$309,428.00
Summary
Health-promoting behaviours - such as physical activity - that are maintained from childhood to adulthood have a positive effect on health status. My research will examine aspects of the built environment associated with child behaviour, health and development and use these findings to formulate recommendations to key stakeholders for the design of user-friendly, active-living environments for children and interventions targeting adults.