The Role Of Dietary Protein On Weight Loss And Body Composition In Men And Women With Insulin Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$208,055.00
Summary
Obesity is an increasing problem in the community and is associated with an increased incidence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Although conventional dietary advice for weight loss is a low fat high carbohydrate and high fibre diet there is a very strong interest in the media and the general population in alternative diets that feature reduced carbohydrate with the remainder of the diet either protein or a mixture of protein and fat ....Obesity is an increasing problem in the community and is associated with an increased incidence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Although conventional dietary advice for weight loss is a low fat high carbohydrate and high fibre diet there is a very strong interest in the media and the general population in alternative diets that feature reduced carbohydrate with the remainder of the diet either protein or a mixture of protein and fat. Unfortunately there is very little published data to guide the decisions of health professionals in this area and there is a strong demand for such information. We plan to perform 2 large weight loss studies which focus on high protein diets with one exchanging protein for carbohydrate and keeping fat constant and the second exchanging protein for fat keeping carbohydrate constant. We will assess whether the high protein diets blunt the decrease in metabolic rate that occurs with weight loss, and whether it spares some of the inevitable loss of muscle mass. We will also measure whether high protein diets improve glucose metabolism in people already at risk of diabetes and heart disease because of their obesity and high insulin levels.Read moreRead less
Gastrointestinal Function And Appetite In Obesity - Acute And Longer-term Effects Of Changes In Energy Intake
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$744,645.00
Summary
The prevalence of obesity is assuming epidemic proportions. While weight loss diets help people to lose weight, body weight stabilises over time despite continued dieting. Our research proposal represents a novel initiative with the aim to understand the adaptations in gastrointestinal mechanisms in response to acute and longer-term dietary restriction that compromise weight loss. Ultimately our research will help to develop weight loss strategies that are successful in the long-term.
The DietAdvice Website A New Innovation For Dietitians In Clinical Practice.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,975.00
Summary
Due to the growing incidence of obesity within Australia, use of computer technology may be a method of targeting these people by increasing access to dietary services. Currently available dietary software in the Australian context only allows analysis of nutrient information. Thus when a dietitian sees a patient they must manually translate food intake to nutrient information, a largely time consuming exercise. DietAdvice is a website that was developed for people to enter in their own food int ....Due to the growing incidence of obesity within Australia, use of computer technology may be a method of targeting these people by increasing access to dietary services. Currently available dietary software in the Australian context only allows analysis of nutrient information. Thus when a dietitian sees a patient they must manually translate food intake to nutrient information, a largely time consuming exercise. DietAdvice is a website that was developed for people to enter in their own food intakes. The food information is sent to a dietitian who develops individualised dietary advice for them. A pilot study of the website has already found it to be feasible in the primary healthcare setting. Tested for 12 months the website was used by 224 patients from GP practices in the Illawarra region of NSW. Approximately 73% of patients were overweight and patients with a high BMI were 1.88 times more likely to use the website in the comfort of their home. Further research about the website however was needed. The research to follow on from the pilot study will aim to refine the DietAdvice website, leading towards its commercialisation for dietitians in clinical practice. The research will be broken into 3 phases. Phase 1 will involve a usability test of the website, assessing the underlying algorithms and testing it with dietitians in private practice. Phase 2 will see volunteers using the website on multiple occasions after being given pre-weighed amounts of food to eat. This will determine how reliable and accurate the information is; and phase 3 will evaluate whether the website is cost effective and if it increases accessibility of health services especially in rural areas. By confirming these attributes there will be a sound basis to commercialise the product.Read moreRead less
Effects Of The Fatty Acid, Lauric Acid, On Energy Intake And Gut Motor And Hormonal Function In Health And Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$744,645.00
Summary
Obesity is largely due to energy intake exceeding energy expenditure, thus, strategies that reduce energy intake will result in weight loss. We discovered recently that the fatty acid, lauric acid, markedly reduces energy intake. Our studies will determine the effects of lauric acid on energy intake and body weight reduction in obese subjects. The research is a new initiative and explores the potential of lauric acid as a novel, nutrient-based and side-effect free approach to obesity management.
Developing Innovative, Effective And Evidence-based Dietary Interventions For Prevention And Treatment Of Child Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$288,650.00
Summary
Obesity rates for Australian children continue to rise. Reversing this trend remains a key challenge in establishing a strong foundation early in childhood for a long and healthy life. How to help children and families balance food intake with activity levels in order to achieve and maintain a healthy weight remains unclear. This research program aims to inform best practice about which food patterns and dietary advice are more best in helping families eat well and reverse the obesity epidemic.
Supporting Research Underpinning Evidence Based Practice: Dietary Assessment In Clinical Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$244,674.00
Summary
Dietary change is a significant lifestyle factor in managing the epidemics of obesity and diabetes. Uncovering the details of effective dietary change requires accurate user friendly dietary assessment and advice tools. This research will develop state of the art tools for use in research and practice.
Is A Higher Intake Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Advantageous For Weight Loss?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,219.00
Summary
A 12 month dietary trial will be conducted to investigate whether a diet that is high in polyunsaturated fat (particularly long chain omega-3 fats found in fish oil) improves weight loss and metabolism, compared to a standard low fat weight-reducing diet. Other benefits of the diet, such as improvements in blood pressure, blood lipids and glucose, will be investigated. The findings will be used to refine dietary advice for weight loss and to develop food products enriched with fish oil.
MATERNAL UNDERNUTRITION, INFANT REFEEDING, ADIPOSITY AND DIABETES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$297,323.00
Summary
Malnutrition is a major health problem throughout the world and one of the priority areas for the WHO. Refeeding program guidelines have been established and implemented when children are assessed as being malnourished. Recent studies on the effect of these important programs throughout the world have suggested they may not have been as successful as wished. Indeed, even though many of the subjects are the urban poor, it has been found that many are developing diabetes in their twenties. This is ....Malnutrition is a major health problem throughout the world and one of the priority areas for the WHO. Refeeding program guidelines have been established and implemented when children are assessed as being malnourished. Recent studies on the effect of these important programs throughout the world have suggested they may not have been as successful as wished. Indeed, even though many of the subjects are the urban poor, it has been found that many are developing diabetes in their twenties. This is associated with an increase in abdominal fatness, out of proportion to the rest of the body's size and shape. The increase in diabetes in this group is most worrying and a major public health problem. It is not known whether the diabetes and abdominal fatness are caused by the refeeding programs or whether they are due to the fact that the body's metabolism was programmed during pregnancy. Perhaps the infants were malnourished whilst they were developing during pregnancy and metabolism was changed so they could store fat easily and not use glucose as readily in the rest of the body. This study is designed to show whether there are metabolic changes which predispose to diabetes and fatness present at birth in those who are malnourished or whether the refeeeding program designed to help them grow is the cause of these later problems.Read moreRead less
An Investigation Of Physiological Adapatations Contributing To Weight Regain After Weight Loss
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,897.00
Summary
Why we gain weight, and why it s hard to maintain weight loss, is the focus of this study. We can regulate food intake by voluntary control in the short term ( dieting ), but our long term ability to control food intake is more complex. Many proteins work together to regulate food intake, as do circulating factors in our blood. Before and after weight loss, subjects feelings of hunger and satiety will be examined so that we can identify pathways that are involved in successful weight loss.