Long-term Health Effects Of Low-carbohydrate Diets In Obese Subjects With The Metabolic Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$497,716.00
Summary
The prevalence of obesity and its associated physiological and psychological comorbidities is increasing dramatically in Australia and throughout the developed world. Governing public health bodies recommend lifestyle changes of energy restriction combined with increasing physical activity for the treatment of obesity. In response to the increasing concerns about the rising level of obesity, there has been a multitude of fad diets developed outside the medical and nutritional recommendations for ....The prevalence of obesity and its associated physiological and psychological comorbidities is increasing dramatically in Australia and throughout the developed world. Governing public health bodies recommend lifestyle changes of energy restriction combined with increasing physical activity for the treatment of obesity. In response to the increasing concerns about the rising level of obesity, there has been a multitude of fad diets developed outside the medical and nutritional recommendations for healthy eating and with this an increased popularity of dietary regimens with severe restriction of carbohydrate, such as the Dr. Atkins diet. But although adopted by millions worldwide yearly and the release of a range of low-carbohydrate products into the food market, there is minimal scientific evidence available for the long-term efficacy and safety of low-carbohydrate diets, including their impact on risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, kidney function, bone health, psychosocial function and the capacity to undertake concurrent physical activity and daily living activities. Consequently, there is a lack of evidenced-based public health recommendations and policy regarding these dietary practices. In this project we will compare the long-term nutritional adequacy and effects of a very low-carbohydrate, weight loss diet to a conventional high-carbohydrate, low fat weight loss diet on cardiovascular health, exercise tolerance, mood state, bone health, renal function, bowel health and cancer risk in obese people with risk factors for cardiovascular disease in order to develop appropriate public health guidelines to counsel obese patients.Read moreRead less
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.
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
The Role Of Sarcopenia And Undernutrition In Disability After Hip Fracture
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$315,391.00
Summary
Hip fracture is one of the most costly and devastating medical events which can befall an elderly individual, and is expected to affect 40,000 Australians per year by the year 2040. It often results in permanent loss of walking abilities and independence, as well as a severely diminished quality of life. For example, 80% of elderly Australians who fracture their hip will not regain their previous level of walking ability, 20% will have died, and up to 25% will be in permanent nursing home reside ....Hip fracture is one of the most costly and devastating medical events which can befall an elderly individual, and is expected to affect 40,000 Australians per year by the year 2040. It often results in permanent loss of walking abilities and independence, as well as a severely diminished quality of life. For example, 80% of elderly Australians who fracture their hip will not regain their previous level of walking ability, 20% will have died, and up to 25% will be in permanent nursing home residence 12 months later. Although hip fracture has been thought of as a problem primarily related to osteoporosis (age-related loss of bone), it is now increasingly clear that other factors such as muscle wasting and weakness, gait and balance problems and poor dietary intake are also risk factors for this condition. Although surgical techniques have advanced to the point that most operations to repair hip fracture are now successful, the rehabilitation outcomes are disappointingly poor compared to other orthopaedic injuries. We believe that this is because recovery after hip fracture is in fact not primarily related to the bone disease itself, but to inadequate muscle bulk and strength. It is likely that already frail patients with a new hip fracture will experience further muscle wasting over time, because of their very low levels of physical activity, poor nutritional intake, depression, social isolation, and impaired memory in some cases. Their poor diet may be related in part to their difficulty in getting out of the home, preparing meals, reduced appetite and poor morale in the post-fracture period. If our theory is correct, then we will be able to prove that disability after hip fracture is closely related to muscle mass, and many common clinical problems contribute to this underlying mechanism of dysfunction. We will test these ideas by following patients who have had a hip fracture for 12 months with periodic detailed assessmentsRead moreRead less
Dietary Protein Effects In Elderly Women: Musculoskeletal, Renal, Cardiovascular And Body Composition Endpoints
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$478,946.00
Summary
Fractures and falls of the elderly are major health problems in our community in terms of disability and cost. It is critical to the future health of our aging population to develop non-pharmaceutical interventions to maintain health into old age. Epidemiologic studies have shown that relatively high protein intake is associated with increased bone mineral mass and reduced incidence of osteoporotic fracture in elderly people. Low protein intakes can lead to loss of muscle mass. To date there hav ....Fractures and falls of the elderly are major health problems in our community in terms of disability and cost. It is critical to the future health of our aging population to develop non-pharmaceutical interventions to maintain health into old age. Epidemiologic studies have shown that relatively high protein intake is associated with increased bone mineral mass and reduced incidence of osteoporotic fracture in elderly people. Low protein intakes can lead to loss of muscle mass. To date there have been no randomised trials of sufficient duration to examine the effects of increased dietary protein intake on bone and muscle health of the elderly. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of protein supplementation for the prevention of osteoporosis and muscle wasting in elderly women, and the safety of such an intervention through monitoring renal function and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Two hundred and twenty women will be recruited to this study and be assigned to protein group or placebo group. Women in the protein group will received 250 ml high protein drink (containing 30 g protein) per day and women in the placebo group will receive placebo drink containing the same amount of energy, calcium but no additional protein. Bone structure, muscle mass, body composition, renal function and risk factors for cardiovascular disease will be monitored during the 2 year study period. The results of this randomised, controlled study will clarify the role of protein on bone mass and structure, muscle mass and body composition in the elderly. At the same time, the safety of such intervention on renal and cardiovascular endpoints will also be evaluated. It is envisaged that the results of this study if positive will translate into both immediately applicable intervention strategies that are relevant at a program and an individual level.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
Effect Of Prenatal N-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids On Body Mass In Early Childhood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,462,626.00
Summary
In Australia more than 1 in 5 four year-olds are now classified as overweight. There is good evidence that omega-3 fats inhibit the early development of fat cells and thereby reduce the later accumulation of excess body fat. This will be the first human trial to examine whether an increased supply of low cost omega 3 fats in pregnancy can reduce fatness and the likelihood of developing type II diabetes in childhood.
Should You Be Eating That? Food-derived Bacteria And Their Role In Treating Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,405,182.00
Summary
The clinical application of medicines based on the microbes that exist as part of microbiomes is now a reality. Despite these rapid advances understanding how the bacteria are transmitted and recolonise after disruption is essential. Our preliminary data suggests that the average Australian adult consumes over 10 million bacteria per day in their diet. This project seeks to understand these relationships and how they can be exploited to develop the next generations of microbiome based medicine.