Improving Weight Loss Outcomes By Minimizing Adaptive Responses To Energy Restriction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,458.00
Summary
While losing excess weight reduces the risk of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, current weight loss strategies are ineffective for most, in part because the body mounts a ‘famine reaction’ that increases hunger, decreases metabolic rate and may also cause loss of muscle and bone mass. This research aims to determine the effects of the famine reaction on body composition, as well as to identify new ways to block the famine reaction with food, thereby enabling more people to attain and maintai ....While losing excess weight reduces the risk of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, current weight loss strategies are ineffective for most, in part because the body mounts a ‘famine reaction’ that increases hunger, decreases metabolic rate and may also cause loss of muscle and bone mass. This research aims to determine the effects of the famine reaction on body composition, as well as to identify new ways to block the famine reaction with food, thereby enabling more people to attain and maintain a healthy body weight and composition.Read moreRead less
Several natural chemicals in the brain and gut that regulate food intake and body weight have been identified. Their actions in regulating these processes are achieved through a complex yet little understood interaction with various molecules and receptors which leads to a cascade of reactions in the central nervous system. The aim if this PhD project is to elucidate the mechanisms of these interacting molecules to develop novel and effective leads for the prevention and treatment of obesity.
Unravelling The Impact Of An Energy-rich Environment On Susceptibility And Resistance To Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$796,754.00
Summary
Obesity in Australia is at a crisis point. It is clear that energy-rich environments and an individual’s genes leads to excessive weight gain, but what we don’t understand is why some individuals are more prone to this than others. Comprehending this biological regulation is imperative if we are to develop more effective drug or dietary treatments to abate this disease. Thus it is the aim of this grant to dissect the biological/genetic/possible epigenetic perturbations leading to common obesity.
Determinants Of Brown Adipose Tissue Activation - Implication For The Regulation Of Energy Balance And Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$617,192.00
Summary
One of the most important recent findings in the biology of obesity has been the revelation that brown adipose tissue (BAT) is present and functional in adult humans. Even more important, the amount of BAT seems to be related to the extent of obesity. The challenge now is to harness the means by which BAT is activated. Understanding the central neural control pathways and the rate limiting steps in the BAT itself will pave the way for new anti-obesity strategies.
Improving Successful Long-term Weight Loss By Deactivating The Human Famine Reaction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$799,102.00
Summary
There are more than 7 million overweight or obese adults in Australia. With conventional methods of weight loss, only 5% of these people will be able to achieve permanent weight reduction of any significance to health outcomes. This project aims to develop more effective and permanent methods of weight management through comparing effectiveness of continuous versus intermittent dieting; and determining what metabolic, hormonal and behavioural factors predict weight regain.
I am a nutritional scientist with a research focus on gastrointestinal function and energy intake regulation in humans. The aim of my research is to understand (1) how any changes in gut function in obesity derail the appetite-regulatory and, thus, reinforce weight gain, ans (2) the role of gut function in the pathophysiology of digestive symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia.
Of Mice And Men: Assessing Dietary Proteins Role On Appetite Regulation, Obesity And Cardiovascular Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$86,521.00
Summary
While the challenge of understanding and managing the global obesity epidemic is well recognised, the role that nutrition plays is more complex than at first glance. Dietary protein may be of central importance in managing weight and small changes in protein consumption may lead to large changes in energy intake and weight. We propose to look at the effects of dietary protein on appetite, its hormonal regulation, and on the risk of developing metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
Understanding The Mechanisms For Ameliorating/preventing Antipsychotic-induced Obesity In Early Life
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$576,496.00
Summary
There has been a sharp worldwide increase during the last decade in antipsychotic prescriptions (mostly “off-label”) to paediatric patients. One important issue is that antipsychotic drugs were developed for adult patients and normally have serious side-effects. This project will not only reveal the mechanisms of antipsychotic-induced obesity side-effects in youth, but will also explore intervention strategies for preventing antipsychotic-induced weight gain/obesity in paediatric patients.