Towards a healthier food supply: achieving policy change and industry action. This research aims to identify mechanisms by which to improve the quality of the Australian food supply. The findings will have the potential to inform government and industry policies on healthier foods with the aim of decreasing chronic disease.
Reducing the social, economic and health burden associated with obesity-related chronic diseases among socio-economically disadvantaged populations. This project will develop new methods and approaches for reducing obesity-related chronic diseases (OCDs) among socially disadvantaged populations in Australia, using prevention models. These prevention models will improve the evidence base in this field as well as inform public health policy and practice in Australia (and other industrialised count ....Reducing the social, economic and health burden associated with obesity-related chronic diseases among socio-economically disadvantaged populations. This project will develop new methods and approaches for reducing obesity-related chronic diseases (OCDs) among socially disadvantaged populations in Australia, using prevention models. These prevention models will improve the evidence base in this field as well as inform public health policy and practice in Australia (and other industrialised countries).Read moreRead less
Dietary patterns across the life-course: implications for the prevention of obesity, cardiometabolic disease and public health. This research will focus on dietary patterns in population health across the life-course. We know little about how dietary patterns and their determinants vary across life and the impact of life-stage transitions on diet and health. This research will provide insights into dietary patterns of infants, children, young adults and older adults.
Home, Family And Socioeconomic Influences On Obesity-related Behaviours
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,874.00
Summary
Preventing obesity in children is a national health priority. Obesity promoting behaviours are established early in life, develop from childhood into adulthood, and are difficult to change. Parents play an important role in shaping the environments that either prevent or encourage obesity in children. This project aims to inform obesity prevention initiatives in Australian children and their families, and particularly among those at high risk due to their low socioeconomic position.
Understanding children's risk of obesity: contextual influences on changes in eating, physical activity and weight status. Overweight and obesity are significant public health issues in Australia. After tobacco, physical inactivity and obesity are leading modifiable contributors to the burden of disease. The economic cost of obesity was recently estimated at $1.3 billion/year. Preventing further increases in childhood obesity is an urgent national priority, however there currently exists insuffi ....Understanding children's risk of obesity: contextual influences on changes in eating, physical activity and weight status. Overweight and obesity are significant public health issues in Australia. After tobacco, physical inactivity and obesity are leading modifiable contributors to the burden of disease. The economic cost of obesity was recently estimated at $1.3 billion/year. Preventing further increases in childhood obesity is an urgent national priority, however there currently exists insufficient information to guide effective obesity prevention strategies. The findings of this study will inform efforts to prevent obesity at the population level by enhancing knowledge of contextual influences on obesity-risk behaviours and the selection of specific targets for intervention. As such, this study will help create a healthier generation of children.Read moreRead less
Personal and environmental influences on changes in adolescents' food consumption behaviours. This project will track the eating behaviours of two groups of randomly selected adolescents between the ages of 12 and 16 years, for three years. The aims are to assess the changes that occur in their eating behaviour and to examine the influence of family, school, mass media and intrapersonal variables during this period so that predictive models can be built. This will facilitate the implementation o ....Personal and environmental influences on changes in adolescents' food consumption behaviours. This project will track the eating behaviours of two groups of randomly selected adolescents between the ages of 12 and 16 years, for three years. The aims are to assess the changes that occur in their eating behaviour and to examine the influence of family, school, mass media and intrapersonal variables during this period so that predictive models can be built. This will facilitate the implementation of life skills education and the prevention of obesity, non-communicable diseases and nutrient deficiencies.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Influence Of Agricultural Trade Policy On Food Consumption Patterns, Malnutrition, And Chronic Disease In Thailand And Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,963.00
Summary
Trade policy is often developed without consideration of its effects on health. The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and New Zealand are key trading partners of Australia. Thus the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) was established in 2009. This project aims to analyse the effect of the agricultural trade component of the AANZFTA on food consumption patterns, malnutrition, obesity and chronic disease in Thailand and Australia.
Nutritional Epidemiology Of Cardiometabolic Risk And Mental Health Disorders From Infancy To Adulthood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,946.00
Summary
I developed and am leading a program of nutrition research that is making a substantial difference and contribution to the literature that will eventually make a difference to the lives of children and adolescents. The focus of this work will be on the nutritional risk factors for mental health and development of the metabolic syndrome that includes cardiovascular and diabetes risk.
Poor diet is now the leading cause of death and disability in Australia and most of the rest of the world. This is because most people eat too much fat, sugar, salt and energy which increases the risks of obesity, diabetes and premature death from conditions like stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. This research will identify new ways to prevent diet-related ill health by making it easier for everyone to eat better, and by identifying new treatments for problems like diabetes.
A Prospective Study Of The Influence Of Health-related Lifestyle Factors On DNA Methylation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,074.00
Summary
It is known that DNA methylation can lead to disease. We aim to discover what causes DNA methylation to change. This could open the way for new methods of prevention and treatment of many diseases. We will study 1200 people to assess how the methylation of their DNA is influenced by changes in their smoking habits, alcohol consumption, vitamin intake, body size, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. We want to know whether these changes lead to undesirable (or desirable) changes in DNA methylation