Management Of Overweight Pre-pubertal Children - A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,300.00
Summary
Obesity is an increasingly common problem in the Australian community, affecting both adults and children. Up to 1 in 4 Australian children are overweight or obese, making it one of the most common chronic disorders in this age-group. Obesity in childhood is associated with such complications as high blood pressure, risk of diabetes, high cholesterol levels, hip, knee and ankle problems, and psychological distress. Given the impact of overweight and obesity on the health of children, how can it ....Obesity is an increasingly common problem in the Australian community, affecting both adults and children. Up to 1 in 4 Australian children are overweight or obese, making it one of the most common chronic disorders in this age-group. Obesity in childhood is associated with such complications as high blood pressure, risk of diabetes, high cholesterol levels, hip, knee and ankle problems, and psychological distress. Given the impact of overweight and obesity on the health of children, how can it be best treated? Surprisingly, there is little information available to guide the management of this common problem. In this study we will test the hypothesis that the addition of a parent skills training program will significantly increase the effectiveness of a diet-activity program designed to reduce weight in overweight 6 to 9-year-olds. Children enrolled in the study will receive one of two interventions (i) parenting + activity-diet or (ii) diet-activity. Parents in the parenting intervention will participate in a parenting skills training program (Triple P) preceding the diet-activity program. Triple P comprises four 2-hour weekly group sessions and four, 15 minute follow-up phone calls which will focus on the skills and strategies required to supervise lifestyle changes. The diet-activity program comprises 8 group sessions for parents over a 5 month period on specific dietary and activity changes and simultaneous structured activity sessions for the children. Success will be judged in several ways. Over a 2 year period, we will monitor the child's weight, self-esteem, sense of well-being, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. We will also monitor the family's functioning and the parents' parenting skills and sense of efficacy. Results from the study should allow us to determine which treatment approach for management of childhood obesity is the most appropriate to be established in community settings.Read moreRead less
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.
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.
CNS Peptides Involved In The Control Of Thermogenesis And Body Weight
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,750.00
Summary
There is currently an obesity epidemic in all industrialised countries which has an associated impact on cardiovascular disease and associated pathologies such as type 2 diabetes. Current therapeutic strategies have focussed on reducing food intake but, as evidenced by the continuation of this epidemic, these have had limited success. An alternative approach, which is the subject of this project, is to determine and modify the central mediators controlling energy expenditure. We will bring a raf ....There is currently an obesity epidemic in all industrialised countries which has an associated impact on cardiovascular disease and associated pathologies such as type 2 diabetes. Current therapeutic strategies have focussed on reducing food intake but, as evidenced by the continuation of this epidemic, these have had limited success. An alternative approach, which is the subject of this project, is to determine and modify the central mediators controlling energy expenditure. We will bring a raft of new technologies to examine this question and potentially identify new avenues for therapeutic intervention in obesity.Read moreRead less
Effects Of Dietary Protein On Gastrointestinal Function: Implications For The Regulation Of Energy Intake In Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$677,157.00
Summary
Obesity is largely due to energy intake exceeding energy expenditure. The CI has reported that dietary protein markedly reduces energy intake but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unknown. The proposed studies will determine whether gastrointestinal mechanisms are involved in the regulation of appetite and energy intake and how they relate to body weight reduction in obese subjects. The research represents a unique approach to the management of obesity and health.
Restricting Dietary Advanced Glycation End Product Intake As A Potential Therapeutic Tool In Diabetic Nephropathy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,351.00
Summary
Kidney disease is a serious complication of diabetes and may occur as a result of a biochemical process known as advanced glycation. These advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulate in the kidney causing disruption of function. Due to modern food processing techniques, the Australian diet has a high AGE content. Over-eating foods which are high in AGEs may worsen diabetic kidney disease. This proposal will test the effects of dietary AGE restriction and overfeeding on kidney function.
Caloric Restriction, Ageing And The Liver Sinusoidal Endothelium: Mechanisms And Implications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$366,216.00
Summary
Old age is the major risk factor for many diseases yet the mechanism is unknown. We discovered age-related changes in the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell that provide a mechanism for the link between old age, lipid metabolism and vascular disease. The liver sinusoidal endothelial cell influences the transfer of substrates between the blood and liver cells, therefore changes in the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell affect liver function. We discovered major structural changes in the liver sinus ....Old age is the major risk factor for many diseases yet the mechanism is unknown. We discovered age-related changes in the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell that provide a mechanism for the link between old age, lipid metabolism and vascular disease. The liver sinusoidal endothelial cell influences the transfer of substrates between the blood and liver cells, therefore changes in the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell affect liver function. We discovered major structural changes in the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell in old age called pseudocapillarization, consisting of loss of pores, increased thickness and deposition of collagen and basal lamina. We showed that the loss of pores prevented the uptake by the liver of some lipoproteins, with implications for age-related changes in lipid metabolism and vascular disease. We have now found that caloric restriction delays pseudocapillarization. Caloric restriction is the only intervention known to increase maximal life span. This effect of caloric restriction is mediated by a protein called SIRT1 through actions on mitochondria and cell death. A naturally occurring agonist of SIRT1 called resveratrol has been found to increase longevity in yeast, worms and flies. We hypothesize that caloric restriction prevents age-related cardiovascular disease by delaying pseudocapillarization and hence maintaining hepatic metabolism of lipoproteins, particularly chylomicron remnants. We propose that caloric restriction will prevent age-related pseudocapillarization via its effects on the SIRT1 pathways and therefore pseudocapillarization will be delayed by resveratrol. Confirmation of these hypotheses will generate a unique target - pores in the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell - for the prevention of vascular disease in older people and provide a platform for the development of novel pharmacological agents such as resveratrol that act by maintaining the porosity of the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell.Read moreRead less
Defining Phenotypic Variation In The Gut-to-brain Signalling Responses To Hexose Sugars.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,564.00
Summary
There is a strong link between the incidence of obesity and consumption of sweetened beverages. The proposed studies will characterise (i) the pathway(s) by which sugars signal from the gut to the brain to regulate food intake, (ii) the role of gut peptides in this signalling, and (iii) the variations between individuals in these responses. This information will provide important insights as to why some individuals are more likely to gain weight in response to exposure to diets high in sugar.