Long-term Metabolic Effects Of Stress And Antidepressants: A Novel Translational Animal Paradigm Of Drug-induced Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$518,231.00
Summary
Do antidepressants contribute to Australia's obesity epidemic? Millions of Australians are treated with antidepressants, which often causes weight gain. Our work shows that even brief exposure to antidepressants exacerbate body weight gain following exposure to chronic stress. This new knowledge represents a significant shift in the understanding of antidepressant-related weight gain. In this project we will study the mechanisms involved in long-term weight gain after exposure to stress and anti ....Do antidepressants contribute to Australia's obesity epidemic? Millions of Australians are treated with antidepressants, which often causes weight gain. Our work shows that even brief exposure to antidepressants exacerbate body weight gain following exposure to chronic stress. This new knowledge represents a significant shift in the understanding of antidepressant-related weight gain. In this project we will study the mechanisms involved in long-term weight gain after exposure to stress and antidepressants in an obesogenic environment.Read moreRead less
Identifying Why Some People Consume Excess Dietary Fat. A Twin Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,462.00
Summary
Obesity is a significant public health problem, yet some individuals are less susceptible to the development of obesity. High fat eating patterns are commonly associated with overweight/obesity. The taste system is the gatekeeper of digestion and the sense of taste responds to fat, and that the fat taste response is associated with obesity. Using twins as subjects to disentangle the influences of 'nature and nuture', in this project we will identify the mechanisms responsible for linking fat tas ....Obesity is a significant public health problem, yet some individuals are less susceptible to the development of obesity. High fat eating patterns are commonly associated with overweight/obesity. The taste system is the gatekeeper of digestion and the sense of taste responds to fat, and that the fat taste response is associated with obesity. Using twins as subjects to disentangle the influences of 'nature and nuture', in this project we will identify the mechanisms responsible for linking fat taste response to development of obesity.Read moreRead less
Dietary Modulation Of Maternal Gut Flora With Oligosaccharides In Pregnancy As A Novel Allergy Prevention Strategy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,681,512.00
Summary
Declining intake of dietary fibre is a major factor implicated in the changing profile of healthy gut bacteria, and the associated increase in many inflammatory diseases including childhood allergy. This clinical trial aims to confirm findings in animal studies that increased dietary fibre in pregnancy can prevent allergy in the offspring, by favourably influencing metabolism and immune function during pregnancy.
Long-term Effects Of A Very Low Carbohydrate, Low Saturated Fat Diet Compared To A Conventional High Carbohydrate, Low Fat Diet On Glycemic Control And Cardiovascular Disease Risk In Overweight And Obese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,311,890.00
Summary
This project is a clinical study investigating whether an very low carbohydrate, low saturated fat diet provides greater benefits for improving blood glucose control and cardiovascular health compared to a conventional, currently prescribed low fat, high unrefined carbohydrate diet in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. This information will provide the highest quality evidence on which the NHMRC can make dietary recommendations for the optimal management of diabetes.
Dietary And Lifestyle Advice And Treatment For Women With Borderline Gestational Diabetes: The IDEAL Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$661,140.00
Summary
Over 22,000 pregnant women in Australia each year (7.7% of pregnancies) develop Borderline Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). The IDEAL Trial is assessing whether implementing dietary and lifestyle advice and monitoring blood glucose in women with Borderline GDM is effective in reducing the risk of serious health outcomes for women and infants. If treatment of these women is effective this would reduce the burden of disease for women and their babies, with implications for improved health thro ....Over 22,000 pregnant women in Australia each year (7.7% of pregnancies) develop Borderline Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). The IDEAL Trial is assessing whether implementing dietary and lifestyle advice and monitoring blood glucose in women with Borderline GDM is effective in reducing the risk of serious health outcomes for women and infants. If treatment of these women is effective this would reduce the burden of disease for women and their babies, with implications for improved health through childhood, adolescence and adulthood.Read moreRead less
While we need to consume salt, too much can be harmful and is in fact directly linked to ~5% of deaths annually in Australia. We have identified a system in the brain that regulates salt intake. Going forwards we will fully elucidate the pathway(s) implicated in regulation of salt intake, thereby identifying strategies to reduce excessive salt consumption.
Assessing The Impact Of A Multi-component Intervention To Improve Dietary Intake Of Indigenous Australian Children And Their Families Living In Remote Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,455,043.00
Summary
Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption seems to contribute to obesity and diabetes. We aim to test the impact of multi-component intervention including a school-based nutrition education program combining high levels of parental involvement plus a supportive environment to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and improve healthy eating among Indigenous Australian children and their families living in remote communities.
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'.
Altering Meal Times To Reverse The Metabolic Consequences Of Shift Work
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$735,715.00
Summary
Shift work disrupts the internal body clock, which increases the risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Our research demonstrates meal timing plays an important role in this metabolic disturbance. Data from animal studies suggests that the adverse consequences of shift work can be reduced by eating only during the day. This study will investigate if this also occurs in humans, potentially leading to a straightforward solution to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in shift workers.
Investigating Dietary Vitamin D In The Australian Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,476.00
Summary
Vitamin D deficiency is a significant public health issue in Australia: almost one in four adults, and one in five adolescents, are vitamin D deficient. Although vitamin D can be obtained from sun exposure and diet, we know very little about dietary vitamin D in Australia. This project will determine how much vitamin D is in Australian foods, how much people get from their usual diets, and whether increasing vitamin D in foods would be a safe and effective way to reduce vitamin D deficiency.