A Dietary Intervention In Gestational Diabetes To Reduce Child Obesity: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,715.00
Summary
Women with gestational diabetes (GDM) whose blood glucose levels (BGL) are not well controlled have a higher chance of giving birth to large babies. These babies are at high risk of becoming overweight children and adults. Preventing child obesity therefore requires appropriate intervention during pregnancy complicated with GDM. This study will determine the ability of specific dietary advice (aimed at reducing maternal BGL) to reduce the risk of large babies in a typical ante-natal setting.
This proposal is designed to test the protein leverage hypothesis (PLH) in humans: the idea that the level of food consumption in humans, like other animals, is adjusted to maintain a target protein intake. As the prevalence of overweight and obesity increases, with its attendant health problems, the need to identify which dietary components limit rather than exacerbate energy intake is imperative. According to the PLH, the consumption of a diet low in % protein and high in % fat and carbohydrat ....This proposal is designed to test the protein leverage hypothesis (PLH) in humans: the idea that the level of food consumption in humans, like other animals, is adjusted to maintain a target protein intake. As the prevalence of overweight and obesity increases, with its attendant health problems, the need to identify which dietary components limit rather than exacerbate energy intake is imperative. According to the PLH, the consumption of a diet low in % protein and high in % fat and carbohydrate, typical of many Western countries, inevitably requires the ingestion of additional energy to maintain protein intake constant, thus driving weight gain. Conversely, the consumption of a diet that is relatively high in % protein requires the ingestion of lower levels of energy, creating the potential for weight loss. Preliminary experimental and population-level nutritional survey data support the PLH, as does the finding that protein is more satiating than other macronutrients. If, as predicted, small changes in the proportion of protein in diets described in the current study are found to impact on total energy intake there will be significant implications for weight control strategies. Thus, if the PLH is confirmed, public health dietary recommendations and government policy settings for the food industry will need to change. Large-scale intervention studies aimed at demonstrating the longer term impact on body weight will also be required.Read moreRead less
Does Obesity Have The Characteristics Of Addiction?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,832.00
Summary
The number of overweight or obese people in Australia has increased dramatically in recent years, increasing disease risk. The brain responds to palatable food in ways similar to the response to drugs of addiction, and this may explain why people find it hard to resist palatable food. Our work will explore whether obesity in rats has the characteristics of addiction by examining bingeing, craving, withdrawal and brain circuits in animals chronically exposed to palatable food.
Interactions Between Protein Leverage, Variety, And Dietary Carbohydrate And Fat Content In The Control Of Energy Intake In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,950.00
Summary
Most attempts to understand human vulnerability to obesity have focussed on fat and carbohydrate, yet recent studies have shown a powerful role for protein: we eat more calories when dietary protein concentration is low. But how does protein interact with other aspects of the diet, notably the prodigious variety of foods available in modern environments and the balance of fat to carbohydrate? We will use controlled trials to investigate how these factors contribute to excess energy intake.
Inflammatory Mediators Of Liver Injury In Chronic Hepatitis C
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,336.00
Summary
Presently, liver disease from chronic hepatitis C and obesity represents a major health problem. Overall, approximately 50% of Australians with chronic hepatitis C are obese and these patients are at significantly increased risk of rapidly progressing to liver failure. It is now recognized that fat derived factors play an important role in regulating inflammatory responses. This grant proposal aims to gain insight into how liver and fat derived inflammatory factors interact to promote increased ....Presently, liver disease from chronic hepatitis C and obesity represents a major health problem. Overall, approximately 50% of Australians with chronic hepatitis C are obese and these patients are at significantly increased risk of rapidly progressing to liver failure. It is now recognized that fat derived factors play an important role in regulating inflammatory responses. This grant proposal aims to gain insight into how liver and fat derived inflammatory factors interact to promote increased liver damage in chronic hepatitis C and obesity.Read moreRead less
How Does Exercise Ameliorate Programming Of Metabolic Dysfunction In Offspring Of Obese Mothers?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$524,121.00
Summary
Obesity is a worldwide disease, reflecting an interaction between our environment (diet, physical activity) and genes. We know that a mother's unhealthy diet can predispose offspring to diabetes, and exercise can improve this, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we will examine how exercise can benefit offspring of obese mothers, and test a drug that mimics the effects of exercise. The proposed research will provide insight into ways of reducing the obesity epidemic.
How Does Paternal Obesity Influence Offspring Glucose Tolerance?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$503,398.00
Summary
Obesity and diabetes are closely related to these conditions in either parent, but how the father contributes is unclear. We have shown that normal females mated with obese fathers consuming high fat diet, produce offspring who develop glucose intolerance and impaired insulin secretion. This work will examine the mechanisms underlying this effect in the rat, testing a novel role for environmental factors in the father on disease in offspring that may be relevant to the growing obesity epidemic.
Understanding Sphingolipid Mediators Of Insulin Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,447.00
Summary
Sphingolipids are a class of lipid metabolites that have a variety of functions within cells. It has been known for some time that an accumulation of excess lipid, including certain sphingolipids, can adversely impact insulin action and glucose metabolism in cells. In this project we will a combination of strategies to test the hypothesis that the sphingolipid profile can be manipulated to have favourable effects on metabolism.
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.
Neurobiological Causes Of Overeating In A Rodent Model - Hedonic Versus Homeostatic Control
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,215.00
Summary
Unlimited access to palatable high fat foods, in conjunction with a sedentary life style, has led to increased obesity. Exactly what mechanisms drive over consumption of energy rich foods and override mechanisms that normally regulate body weight? This project will examine feeding behaviour in rats fed palatable high fat diet, to examine when and how they eat. The contribution of brain chemicals implicated in addiction to this eating, and the impact of withdrawal of food will be examined.