Dietary sugarcane-derived polyphenols reduce obesity. The Australian Sugar Industry is a billion dollar industry with refined sugar being calorie-rich but nutrition poor. Consumption of refined sugar is a main contributor to the increasing problem of obesity and metabolic syndrome, costing the Australian health system billions of dollars annually. The principal outcomes of this project will be to show that the polyphenols contained in the waste products from sugar refining can be used to reduce ....Dietary sugarcane-derived polyphenols reduce obesity. The Australian Sugar Industry is a billion dollar industry with refined sugar being calorie-rich but nutrition poor. Consumption of refined sugar is a main contributor to the increasing problem of obesity and metabolic syndrome, costing the Australian health system billions of dollars annually. The principal outcomes of this project will be to show that the polyphenols contained in the waste products from sugar refining can be used to reduce body fat and insulin resistance. These outcomes have enormous implications for human health and disease, and for the sugar industry, thus providing a competitive edge in the world sugar market.Read moreRead less
Maintaining bone strength in the elderly: the role of exercise and calcium fortified foods. There are currently no effective pharmacological agents for maintaining or increasing bone density during ageing available to older men with low bone strength. We aim to measure the effect on bone density and strength of older men who eat food products enhanced with calcium and vitamin D and undertake regular exercise. The results of this research will make an important contribution to knowledge about the ....Maintaining bone strength in the elderly: the role of exercise and calcium fortified foods. There are currently no effective pharmacological agents for maintaining or increasing bone density during ageing available to older men with low bone strength. We aim to measure the effect on bone density and strength of older men who eat food products enhanced with calcium and vitamin D and undertake regular exercise. The results of this research will make an important contribution to knowledge about the influence of diet and exercise on bone health. This research is also important for the food industry to ensure that the development of innovative food products is based on strong evidence.
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Improving Health and Quality of Life with Improved Nutrition in Residential Care Establishments. Inadequate nutrition is a serious issue in residential care establishments. Poor intake of vitamins and minerals is associated with impaired healing, reduced immune function, and reduction in physical and mental capacity. Lack of food choice and access to suitable nutrient-dense foods all contribute to inadequate energy and protein, leading to weight loss and malnutrition. Our industry partners will ....Improving Health and Quality of Life with Improved Nutrition in Residential Care Establishments. Inadequate nutrition is a serious issue in residential care establishments. Poor intake of vitamins and minerals is associated with impaired healing, reduced immune function, and reduction in physical and mental capacity. Lack of food choice and access to suitable nutrient-dense foods all contribute to inadequate energy and protein, leading to weight loss and malnutrition. Our industry partners will work with us to enhance the nutrient density of suitable foods. We will establish the efficacy of foods and supplements and develop strategies to implement a sustainable nutrition-enhancing program that can be introduced to improve health in residential care establishments throughout Australia.Read moreRead less
Addressing the food and health needs of ageing Baby boomers. This project will facilitate the future provision of food and health promotion services for the "baby boomers" (aged 55 to 70 years). Three consecutive surveys will be administered to a random sample of 1500 middle -aged people which will examine their food consumption and health habits; the psycho social determinants of these behaviours, and, their retirement preparedness. The creation of the project data base will facilitate the moni ....Addressing the food and health needs of ageing Baby boomers. This project will facilitate the future provision of food and health promotion services for the "baby boomers" (aged 55 to 70 years). Three consecutive surveys will be administered to a random sample of 1500 middle -aged people which will examine their food consumption and health habits; the psycho social determinants of these behaviours, and, their retirement preparedness. The creation of the project data base will facilitate the monitoring of future changes and trends in this representative sample of late middle aged people.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
Applying a logic model to link unhealthy food promotion to childhood obesity. This project aims to develop new evidence about the influence of unhealthy food marketing on children’s food attitudes, choices and consumption behaviours. Children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing is recognised by leading international health organisations as a contributor to poor diets and overweight, and is a target for population health intervention. Outcomes from this project aim to contribute to national an ....Applying a logic model to link unhealthy food promotion to childhood obesity. This project aims to develop new evidence about the influence of unhealthy food marketing on children’s food attitudes, choices and consumption behaviours. Children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing is recognised by leading international health organisations as a contributor to poor diets and overweight, and is a target for population health intervention. Outcomes from this project aim to contribute to national and international policy solutions for limiting children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing, by providing original information on the direct and sustained impact of food marketing exposures on children’s overall food intake and dietary quality and the mechanisms that underpin this relationship.Read moreRead less
Exploring resilience in relation to physical activity and dietary behaviours among children from neighbourhoods of low socioeconomic position. The link between social disadvantage and poor health, across a broad age range, is a serious public health challenge. Current interventions to promote healthy weight-related behaviours among young people ignore the motivators and barriers unique to demographic sub-groups, and are largely ineffective. The personal and socio-environmental correlates of heal ....Exploring resilience in relation to physical activity and dietary behaviours among children from neighbourhoods of low socioeconomic position. The link between social disadvantage and poor health, across a broad age range, is a serious public health challenge. Current interventions to promote healthy weight-related behaviours among young people ignore the motivators and barriers unique to demographic sub-groups, and are largely ineffective. The personal and socio-environmental correlates of healthy behaviours among young South Australians identified in this study are likely to be relevant to low socioeconomic neighbourhoods in other states and territories. As such, this study will offer new insights into intervention design that will give impetus to the efforts of researchers, policy makers and practitioners throughout Australia.Read moreRead less
Environmental impact on neuroendocrine and neurobiological mechanisms: treatment strategies and mimetics for maintaining good health. The current societal climate of industrialized countries such as Australia has shifted considerable over recent decades and is now one which is highly conducive to overfeeding and reduced physical activity. As a result, the incidence of obesity has risen markedly along with an associated increase in obesity-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, ....Environmental impact on neuroendocrine and neurobiological mechanisms: treatment strategies and mimetics for maintaining good health. The current societal climate of industrialized countries such as Australia has shifted considerable over recent decades and is now one which is highly conducive to overfeeding and reduced physical activity. As a result, the incidence of obesity has risen markedly along with an associated increase in obesity-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, obstructive pulmonary disease, type II diabetes, and many types of cancers. Less is known about the psychological and behavioural sequelae of this overfeeding. Calorie restriction mimetics may not only act as a preventative intervention to help reduce the incidence and severity of these major health problems, but also impact on social behaviour.Read moreRead less
Modelling policy interventions to protect Australia's food security in the face of environmental sustainability challenges . This project will use an innovative scenario modelling approach to quantify the potential impacts of population growth and emerging climate and environmental challenges on Australia’s future food security. In collaboration with an advisory committee it will specify and prioritise policy solutions in terms of their social and economic credentials.
Tomato and vegetable oil synergies for healthier foods. Vegetable and fruit products are recognised for their content of health-promoting phytonutrients. This project will investigate the bioavailability and subsequent in-vivo antioxidant activity of tomatoes and vegetable oils alone or in combination. A second aim will be to isolate particular phytonutrients from tomates and selected vegetable oils, and then to combine them for determination of synergistic interactions affecting antioxidant ac ....Tomato and vegetable oil synergies for healthier foods. Vegetable and fruit products are recognised for their content of health-promoting phytonutrients. This project will investigate the bioavailability and subsequent in-vivo antioxidant activity of tomatoes and vegetable oils alone or in combination. A second aim will be to isolate particular phytonutrients from tomates and selected vegetable oils, and then to combine them for determination of synergistic interactions affecting antioxidant activity. Opportunities for the preparation of new phytonutrient-oil combination foods with increased antioxidant activity and the potential to enhance the health status of consumers will be developed. The research will provide food processors with expertise to develop novel plant-derived ingredients and food products for sale in the internationally growing functional foods market.Read moreRead less