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.
ISNAP (interactive Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol And Physical Activity) Program For Youth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Tobacco addiction usually begins during adolescence and is often accompanied by broader lifestyle issues being alcohol use, poor nutrition and poor physical activity. Young people today are highly engaged with technology, especially social media. Therefore, innovative technology (eg websites, smartphone apps, holographs and augmented reality) have big potential to lower the appeal and occurrence of risk behaviours. This study aims to design and evaluate an e-health lifestyle program for youth.
A Cluster Randomised Trial Of Electronic Feedback, Online And Telephone Support On Multiple Health Risk Behaviours Among Technical And Further Education (TAFE) Students
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$634,076.00
Summary
This trial will examine whether electronic feedback and enrolment of TAFE students into online and telephone services reduces smoking rates and risky alcohol consumption and increases fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity levels in the long-term. Thirty-two TAFE campuses will participate. At intervention campuses, electronic feedback and online and telephone services will be offered to students for health behaviours which they do not meet Australian health guidelines.
EuropeaN Energy Balance Research To Prevent Excessive Weight Gain Among Youth: The ENERGY Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$102,209.00
Summary
The objective of the ENERGY project is to examine the influence of existing programs on health behaviours in different populations and settings in order to develop an evidence and theory-based approach for promoting physical activity and healthy eating among youth in transition from childhood to adolescence. The results of this project will be translated into practical strategies and knowledge that can be used by schools, policymakers, health professionals and the general public. The ENERGY proj ....The objective of the ENERGY project is to examine the influence of existing programs on health behaviours in different populations and settings in order to develop an evidence and theory-based approach for promoting physical activity and healthy eating among youth in transition from childhood to adolescence. The results of this project will be translated into practical strategies and knowledge that can be used by schools, policymakers, health professionals and the general public. The ENERGY project involves a multidisciplinary team of investigators from 10 European countries and Australia (Deakin University; DU). DU will participate in two of the 10 work packages (WP) in the proposal. The aim of WP3 is to identify the personal, social and physical environmental determinants in family and school of children’s physical activity and healthy eating. The aim of WP5 is to identify moderators and mediators of successful interventions to prevent obesity among children aged 10-12 years.Read moreRead less
An RCT To Promote Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours From Infancy: An Intervention To Prevent Childhood Overweight
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,631.00
Summary
In Australia, one in four school-aged children is currently overweight and childhood obesity rates are continuing to rise. In the last five years it has become clear that rates of overweight and obesity are also rapidly increasing in pre-school age children. These are issues that are of concern to health officials as well as to parents. We understand that these rising rates in fatness relate to children's diet and activity patterns, and that these patterns, once established are likely to be patt ....In Australia, one in four school-aged children is currently overweight and childhood obesity rates are continuing to rise. In the last five years it has become clear that rates of overweight and obesity are also rapidly increasing in pre-school age children. These are issues that are of concern to health officials as well as to parents. We understand that these rising rates in fatness relate to children's diet and activity patterns, and that these patterns, once established are likely to be patterns for life. To date, there has been relatively little research regarding the chance to support parents to establish the eating and activity patterns that will protect their children from the very beginning of life. This project seeks to support first-time parents to establish healthy eating and activity behaviours in their children using the highly utilised Maternal and Child Health Centres first time parents' groups. We believe that these groups will provide a strongly supportive environment in which to provide parents with strategies and knowledge for promoting healthy eating and activity patterns for their children, and in turn, promote healthy weight gain. This project will assess the effectiveness of this intervention.Read moreRead less
The Pacific OPIC Study - A Four Country Study Of Obesity Prevention In Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,600,580.00
Summary
Obesity is a rapidly escalating, worldwide epidemic. Many countries recognise the need to prevent obesity but there is insufficient evidence about what interventions work. The Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities (OPIC) Project will provide data on the effectiveness of a range of interventions to prevent obesity among young people in Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia. Prevention research is particularly required in countries such as Fiji and Tonga because their prevalence of obesity is ....Obesity is a rapidly escalating, worldwide epidemic. Many countries recognise the need to prevent obesity but there is insufficient evidence about what interventions work. The Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities (OPIC) Project will provide data on the effectiveness of a range of interventions to prevent obesity among young people in Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia. Prevention research is particularly required in countries such as Fiji and Tonga because their prevalence of obesity is extremely high. The interventions used in this project will be culturally appropriate and include at least 1000 young people in each intervention group. The outcomes of this project will be applicable to both low- and high-income countries. This project will lead to a greater understanding of the socio-cultural, policy, and economic contexts and provide crucial evidence for public health action to prevent obesity.Read moreRead less
Longitudinal Growth, Nutrition And Physical Activity In Young Children With Cerebral Palsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$686,147.00
Summary
Cerebral palsy is the most common type of physical disability impacting on 1 in 500 children, with lifetime costs of $2m and up to 40% may have restricted growth and nutrition. We aim to follow a cohort of 240 young children with Cerebral Palsy from 18 mths to 5 years to monitor their growth, nutrition, habitual activity, body composition and relate this to comprehensive health outcomes and costs. Better knowledge of these factors will enable nutritional and medical care to be better focused.
Effect Of A Weight Management Program For Overweight And Obese Children: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,000.00
Summary
Children who are obese have a higher risk of numerous health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and joint problems. They also experience reduced self-esteem and discrimination as well as an increased risk of premature death or poor health due to heart disease and Type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Approximately 25% of Australian children are overweight or obese. This prevalence has doubled since the 1980's and is still increasing. Child obesity is a major public health problem ....Children who are obese have a higher risk of numerous health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and joint problems. They also experience reduced self-esteem and discrimination as well as an increased risk of premature death or poor health due to heart disease and Type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Approximately 25% of Australian children are overweight or obese. This prevalence has doubled since the 1980's and is still increasing. Child obesity is a major public health problem and innovative approaches to solving this problem are urgently needed. A range of factors has been postulated as contributing to the global childhood obesity epidemic, including environmental, psychosocial, physical, nutrition, metabolic and lifestyle factors. However, the major determinants involve a shift away from energy balance through reduced energy expenditure or physical activity and increased energy intake. Conventional weight-management strategies have incorporated restricting energy intake or diet, increasing energy expenditure or physical activity, decreasing sedentary activities, parental involvement, and behaviour modification. However, these strategies have only shown moderate success among children in the medium to long term and very few can be translated into community settings. The purpose of this study, and its original contribution to research, is to determine the impact of a physical activity skill development and parent-centred family weight management program on the weight, cardiovascular health, physical activity, dietary intake, and sedentary behaviours of overweight and obese children.Read moreRead less
Effectiveness Of An Early Intervention Trial To Prevent Obesity - Phase 2: Follow-up And Cost Effectiveness Analysis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$435,690.00
Summary
Internationally, Healthy Beginnings Trial (HBT) is the first randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of an early childhood obesity intervention in 0-2 year olds. It is a home-based early intervention designed to improve family and behavioural risk factors for childhood obesity. We seek funding for conducting the follow-up to ages 3.5 and 5 years, and a cost-effectiveness analysis. This will permit the appropriate assessment of this internationally novel trial, which has already att ....Internationally, Healthy Beginnings Trial (HBT) is the first randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of an early childhood obesity intervention in 0-2 year olds. It is a home-based early intervention designed to improve family and behavioural risk factors for childhood obesity. We seek funding for conducting the follow-up to ages 3.5 and 5 years, and a cost-effectiveness analysis. This will permit the appropriate assessment of this internationally novel trial, which has already attracted a significant investment.Read moreRead less