Understanding children's risk of obesity: contextual influences on changes in eating, physical activity and weight status. Overweight and obesity are significant public health issues in Australia. After tobacco, physical inactivity and obesity are leading modifiable contributors to the burden of disease. The economic cost of obesity was recently estimated at $1.3 billion/year. Preventing further increases in childhood obesity is an urgent national priority, however there currently exists insuffi ....Understanding children's risk of obesity: contextual influences on changes in eating, physical activity and weight status. Overweight and obesity are significant public health issues in Australia. After tobacco, physical inactivity and obesity are leading modifiable contributors to the burden of disease. The economic cost of obesity was recently estimated at $1.3 billion/year. Preventing further increases in childhood obesity is an urgent national priority, however there currently exists insufficient information to guide effective obesity prevention strategies. The findings of this study will inform efforts to prevent obesity at the population level by enhancing knowledge of contextual influences on obesity-risk behaviours and the selection of specific targets for intervention. As such, this study will help create a healthier generation of children.Read moreRead less
Personal and environmental influences on changes in adolescents' food consumption behaviours. This project will track the eating behaviours of two groups of randomly selected adolescents between the ages of 12 and 16 years, for three years. The aims are to assess the changes that occur in their eating behaviour and to examine the influence of family, school, mass media and intrapersonal variables during this period so that predictive models can be built. This will facilitate the implementation o ....Personal and environmental influences on changes in adolescents' food consumption behaviours. This project will track the eating behaviours of two groups of randomly selected adolescents between the ages of 12 and 16 years, for three years. The aims are to assess the changes that occur in their eating behaviour and to examine the influence of family, school, mass media and intrapersonal variables during this period so that predictive models can be built. This will facilitate the implementation of life skills education and the prevention of obesity, non-communicable diseases and nutrient deficiencies.Read moreRead less
Food and drink company sponsorship of children's sport: publicity or philanthropy? Currently food and beverage company sport sponsorship in Australia has not been analyzed or regulated. The proposed research will incorporate both of these neglected areas by determining current patterns of food company sponsorship and by driving new programs and policies to support sporting organisations in promoting children's health in a consistent fashion. This study will challenge commonly held assumptions an ....Food and drink company sponsorship of children's sport: publicity or philanthropy? Currently food and beverage company sport sponsorship in Australia has not been analyzed or regulated. The proposed research will incorporate both of these neglected areas by determining current patterns of food company sponsorship and by driving new programs and policies to support sporting organisations in promoting children's health in a consistent fashion. This study will challenge commonly held assumptions and social norms relating to the value of food company sponsorship, which is classically viewed as good corporate behaviour, but may in fact have adverse health effects.Read moreRead less
Youth Cultures of Eating: A Cultural Analysis of Youth Obesity, Gender, Class, Ethnicity and Generation. Australian children and teenagers rank among the most overweight in the world. While there has been ample information about healthy eating, the message does not seem to be getting through to youth. This will be the first in-depth nationwide cultural study of the effects of gender, ethnicity, class, generation and geographical location on the food consumption practices of youth. It will provid ....Youth Cultures of Eating: A Cultural Analysis of Youth Obesity, Gender, Class, Ethnicity and Generation. Australian children and teenagers rank among the most overweight in the world. While there has been ample information about healthy eating, the message does not seem to be getting through to youth. This will be the first in-depth nationwide cultural study of the effects of gender, ethnicity, class, generation and geographical location on the food consumption practices of youth. It will provide information and analysis about how primary and high school students, teachers and parents perceive the problem of youth obesity. it will also provide insights which will enable policy-makers, school authorities and health practitioners to better understand this issue.
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Addressing Child Nutritional Deficiency Through Development of a Nutritious Food Based on Dried Vegetable or Fruit. A significant proportion of Australian children are deficient in nutrients that dramatically affect mental and physical development. To improve health and wellness, micronutrients must be in a palatable form and be sufficiently absorbed to improve nutritional status. To optimise stability during processing, sensory quality and metabolic absorption, appropriate micronutrient food fo ....Addressing Child Nutritional Deficiency Through Development of a Nutritious Food Based on Dried Vegetable or Fruit. A significant proportion of Australian children are deficient in nutrients that dramatically affect mental and physical development. To improve health and wellness, micronutrients must be in a palatable form and be sufficiently absorbed to improve nutritional status. To optimise stability during processing, sensory quality and metabolic absorption, appropriate micronutrient food fortification technology must be used. This project proposes a unique linkage between three distinct University faculties and Industry, to combine the development of novel fortified dried-vegetable and/or fruit leathers with an efficient process for their production, nutritional studies to assess their absorption, and target market (young children) acceptance studies.Read moreRead less