Are The Energy Expenditures Of Household And Garden Chores Of Sufficient Intensity To Confer Health Benefits?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,110.00
Summary
Participation in regular moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity reduces risk for cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Recent epidemiological recommendations are that 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity (e.g. brisk walking at 4.8-6.4 km-hr) on most days is sufficient to confer these significant health benefits. However, many Australians spend substantial amounts of time engaged in household chores and gardening - yardwork ....Participation in regular moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity reduces risk for cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Recent epidemiological recommendations are that 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity (e.g. brisk walking at 4.8-6.4 km-hr) on most days is sufficient to confer these significant health benefits. However, many Australians spend substantial amounts of time engaged in household chores and gardening - yardwork activities but it is unknown whether the intensities of these activities are sufficient to confer the aforementioned health benefits. The aims of this study are therefore to: 1. Measure directly the energy cost of self-paced common household chores and gardening - yard activities. 2. Provide data that are required to estimate accurately the prevalence of 'adequate' levels of physical activity among adults. 3. Identify indirect methods (such as heart rate, motion and breathing frequency) which, in combination, are suitable for use in large scale surveys of activity levels. The outcomes of this study will be: 1. A greatly improved understanding of whether energy expenditure associated with self-paced household chores and gardening - yard activities is adequate to confer health benefits. 2. Our results will be used in key public health interventions which are aimed at modifying the physical activity levels of Australians. 3. If the public health message encourages some of the ~30% of sedentary Australians to undertake regular moderate intensity physical activity then this will: reduce the cost of the health care system, substantially reduce the premature loss of life and decrease morbidity and disability. 4. Our results will help public health epidemiologists to monitor the percentage of Australians who are adequately physically active.Read moreRead less
Improving Health Outcomes For Aboriginal Australians With Chronic Disease Thru Strategies To Reduce Systems Barriers To
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,997,256.00
Summary
The research aims to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people with chronic disease, through strategies of care that address health system barriers. The project aims to understand barriers and then to develop, implement and evaluate appropriate models of care that incorporate policy development and engagement. The project is to incorporate research partnerships and Indigenous sector capacity development.
Prevention And Management Of Overweight In Young Adults In The Primary Care Setting
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,074.00
Summary
Generation Y is more likely to become overweight and obese than previous generations, increasing costs to the Australian health care system. Government and health experts agree on the need to prevent weight gain, particularly in high risk groups. Electronic intervention has proven to prevent weight gain in young adults in the short term. The proposed research will test a state-of-the-art electronic intervention, tailored to individual readiness to change, over the long-term to evaluate sustainab ....Generation Y is more likely to become overweight and obese than previous generations, increasing costs to the Australian health care system. Government and health experts agree on the need to prevent weight gain, particularly in high risk groups. Electronic intervention has proven to prevent weight gain in young adults in the short term. The proposed research will test a state-of-the-art electronic intervention, tailored to individual readiness to change, over the long-term to evaluate sustainability.Read moreRead less
Improving Weight Loss By Intermittent Use Of Very Low Energy Diet: The TANGO Diet Trial (Temporary Phases Of Accelerated Weight Loss For Noticeably Greater Outcomes)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$660,736.00
Summary
Very low energy diet (VLED) is being increasingly used for the treatment of obesity, but the resultant weight loss is usually transient, partly because it induces powerful adaptive responses that inhibit weight loss and promote regain. We have shown that 'taking a break from dieting' for 2 weeks reduces these adaptive responses. In this project we will thus test whether weight loss outcomes with VLED can be improved via intermittent use, where periods on the VLED are alternated with 'breaks'.
Do People's Environments Influence Their Habitual Physical Activity?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,650.00
Summary
People seem to prefer to drive to the corner shop rather than walking. Or, they will drive the car to work instead of walking to the bus or train. Or, they send off e-mails instead of walking down the corridor at work. The result is that people are not using up the energy that they should and they get fatter. The average weight of many groups of Australians has gone up by several kilograms in the past 10 years. Active people not only have healthier weights. They are less likely to get heart dise ....People seem to prefer to drive to the corner shop rather than walking. Or, they will drive the car to work instead of walking to the bus or train. Or, they send off e-mails instead of walking down the corridor at work. The result is that people are not using up the energy that they should and they get fatter. The average weight of many groups of Australians has gone up by several kilograms in the past 10 years. Active people not only have healthier weights. They are less likely to get heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. But too many people do no exercise at all. Only about 10% of Australians adults do fitness and sporting activities three or more times a week. More than half do not walk, cycle or do anything moderately active on any regular basis. To get people to be regularly active and to stay active, promoting deliberate 'exercise' is not the answer. Making it easier for people to choose to be more active as they go about their daily lives will be more effective. Road transport researchers and geographers have a lot to offer to health researchers. They have found that where there are footpaths and cycle ways, where shops and businesses are close by or where the roads make it easy and safe to get from place to place, people are much more likely to walk or ride bikes. We can now use large, complex computerised databases (called Geographic Information Systems) to put together this type of information on peoples' local environments. We will combine these 'geographic' data with other information from surveys on people's physical activity, exercise and transport habits. Starting our research in this way, we will be able to work out whether there are factors in people's local environments that really do make them less active. Governments, health planners and local councils will use this information to find ways to create communities that are more activity-friendly. This will have real health benefits.Read moreRead less
Longitudinal Growth, Nutrition And Physical Activity In Young Children With Cerebral Palsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$686,147.00
Summary
Cerebral palsy is the most common type of physical disability impacting on 1 in 500 children, with lifetime costs of $2m and up to 40% may have restricted growth and nutrition. We aim to follow a cohort of 240 young children with Cerebral Palsy from 18 mths to 5 years to monitor their growth, nutrition, habitual activity, body composition and relate this to comprehensive health outcomes and costs. Better knowledge of these factors will enable nutritional and medical care to be better focused.
Promoting Physical Activity Participation Among Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy - A Randomised Clinical Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$44,276.00
Summary
Adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) are amongst the least active members of society. These decreased activity levels places them at high risk of additional disability and disease. This program of study focuses on (i) validation of an objective community based measure of Habitual Physical Activity (HPA) and (ii) a community based randomised clinical trial comparing a novel approach “motivational training” with a standard care intervention to enhance HPA in adolescents with CP.
Health Services Research: A Randomised Controlled Trial To Evaluate A Model Of Comprehensive Stroke Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$519,150.00
Summary
This study compares the length of stay and patient outcomes between two stroke care models - co-located acute-rehabilitation and dislocated acute-rehabilitation stroke care. In participating hospitals, acute stroke patients admitted to the emergency department will be randomly allocated to either model of care. Length of hospital stay and clinical outcomes will be examined 90 days post-stroke. Study results will provide high level of evidence for future stroke care model development.
EuropeaN Energy Balance Research To Prevent Excessive Weight Gain Among Youth: The ENERGY Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$102,209.00
Summary
The objective of the ENERGY project is to examine the influence of existing programs on health behaviours in different populations and settings in order to develop an evidence and theory-based approach for promoting physical activity and healthy eating among youth in transition from childhood to adolescence. The results of this project will be translated into practical strategies and knowledge that can be used by schools, policymakers, health professionals and the general public. The ENERGY proj ....The objective of the ENERGY project is to examine the influence of existing programs on health behaviours in different populations and settings in order to develop an evidence and theory-based approach for promoting physical activity and healthy eating among youth in transition from childhood to adolescence. The results of this project will be translated into practical strategies and knowledge that can be used by schools, policymakers, health professionals and the general public. The ENERGY project involves a multidisciplinary team of investigators from 10 European countries and Australia (Deakin University; DU). DU will participate in two of the 10 work packages (WP) in the proposal. The aim of WP3 is to identify the personal, social and physical environmental determinants in family and school of children’s physical activity and healthy eating. The aim of WP5 is to identify moderators and mediators of successful interventions to prevent obesity among children aged 10-12 years.Read moreRead less