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
The Effectiveness Of A Comprehensive ‘universal’ And ‘targeted’ Intervention To Prevent Substance Use And Related Harms In Adolescents: The CAP Project
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$755,906.00
Summary
Alcohol and other drug use are common amongst Australian adolescents and the disability associated with this use is considerable. Prevention is clearly needed, yet we have few models of well implemented prevention programs that are effective in maximisising prevention outcomes.The current proposal addresses this gap by evaluating a novel approach to preventing substance use and related harms in adolescents by combining effective 'universal' and 'targeted' school-based prevention programs in a su ....Alcohol and other drug use are common amongst Australian adolescents and the disability associated with this use is considerable. Prevention is clearly needed, yet we have few models of well implemented prevention programs that are effective in maximisising prevention outcomes.The current proposal addresses this gap by evaluating a novel approach to preventing substance use and related harms in adolescents by combining effective 'universal' and 'targeted' school-based prevention programs in a sustainable delivery platform.Read moreRead less
A Large-scale Clinical Effectiveness (health Services) Trial To Determine Whether Personalised Health Care Packages, Combined With Digitally-supported Measurement-based Care, Improve Functional Outcomes In Young People With Mood Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,434,588.00
Summary
One of our greatest current health challenges is to develop highly-personalised interventions for teenagers and young adults with emerging mood disorders. This research will combine our national expertise to develop and implement care packages utilising digital technologies, personalised assessment techniques, targeted treatment choices, and long-term outcome tracking. In a clinical trial we will assess the clinical effectiveness of these innovative healthcare packages.
Prevention Of Complications In Type 2 Diabetes By Using ICT To Optimise Self-management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$849,181.00
Summary
The impact of the diabetes epidemic on individuals and society is severe but can be reduced by improving diabetes self-management. Conducted in partnership with Diabetes Australia (Queensland, Victoria, WA) and Roche Diagnostics, this research will evaluate the 'real world' implementation of a telehealth program, already successfully trialled, which has the potential to provide a low cost and effective program to a large number of Australians with type 2 diabetes.
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.
Regulatory Strategies To Promote Healthier Australian Diets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Unhealthy diets are a leading cause of ill health. In contrast to our global leadership in tobacco control, Australia remains slow to use law as a tool to support healthy eating. This project will generate new insights on features of effective food policies to target excess sugar consumption. Using an innovative fusion of law and science, its findings will inform and accelerate current proposals to improve food labelling and tax sugary drinks to promote healthier Australian diets.
PRevention & Early Intervention In Mental Illness And Substance UsE (PREMISE CRE)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,495,969.00
Summary
Substance use and mental disorders are among the leading causes of burden of disease in young people globally. Effective prevention and early intervention can reduce disease burden by halting, interrupting or delaying the onset and development of disorder. The PREMISE CRE will build the science to move the field from crisis, acute care and containment to prevention and early intervention, achieving a critical aim of the Australian Government’s program of reform in mental health and addiction.
Reducing Peer Victimisation In Australian Schools Through Targeted And Universal Approaches
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,063,531.00
Summary
Peer victimisation is a significant problem for young people in Australia and can lead to devastating long-term consequences including poor self esteem, depression and suicide. The current project aims to identify the most cost effective methods to reduce peer victimisation in schools. This will combine programs applied across the whole school with a more targeted program building resilience in vulnerable children. The results will have important implications for anti-bullying policies in school ....Peer victimisation is a significant problem for young people in Australia and can lead to devastating long-term consequences including poor self esteem, depression and suicide. The current project aims to identify the most cost effective methods to reduce peer victimisation in schools. This will combine programs applied across the whole school with a more targeted program building resilience in vulnerable children. The results will have important implications for anti-bullying policies in schools.Read moreRead less
Pathways To Prevention: The Effectiveness Of Universal And Selective Prevention In Altering Developmental Pathways To Alcohol And Cannabis Related Harms In Young Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,967.00
Summary
This project will assess the potential long-term benefits for young Australians of two school-based drug prevention programs (Climate Schools and Preventure) compared to drug education as usual. This world-first study will inform national and international policy by evaluating whether prevention programs delivered in Year 8 are effective in reducing alcohol and cannabis related harms, including risk of aggression and violence, over the high risk period during young adulthood (ages 18-20).