A Randomised Controlled Trial To Prevent Primigravid Excessive Gestational Weight Gain And Postpartum Weight Retention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$505,412.00
Summary
Excessive weight gain in pregnancy and weight retention 12 months post birth place women at a greater risk for the development of overweight and obesity. This study responds to the urgent need to design effective interventions to prevent excessive weight gain in pregnancy and postpartum weight retention. A health coaching intervention has been designed to address this urgent need, and its effectiveness will be evaluated in a randomised controlled trial with first time pregnant women.
Effects Of Gastric Bypass And Banding For Obesity On Gastrointestinal Function, Body Weight, Glycaemia And Symptoms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$444,086.00
Summary
The increasing incidence of obesity poses a significant impact on the health care system. Bariatric surgery not only achieves sustained weight loss but also reverses the associated complications. This proposal aims to examine the mechanisms that mediate weight loss, improvement in blood glucose control and symptoms after bariatric surgery. The results will provide insights into future development of minimally invasive interventions for the management of obesity and diabetes.
A HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM INCORPORATING FISH FOR WITHDRAWAL OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS IN OVERWEIGHT, HYPERTENSIVES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$616,996.00
Summary
Obesity is the major lifestyle factor predisposing to high blood pressure and abnormal blood fat levels. Weight reduction and omega-3 fatty acids from fish meals and fish oils have been shown independently to reduce blood pressure and improve blood fats in subjects with high blood pressure. We have previously shown that in treated hypertensive patients on a daily fish meal as part of a weight-reducing regimen, substantial blood pressure reduction was achieved over a 4 month period. We now aim to ....Obesity is the major lifestyle factor predisposing to high blood pressure and abnormal blood fat levels. Weight reduction and omega-3 fatty acids from fish meals and fish oils have been shown independently to reduce blood pressure and improve blood fats in subjects with high blood pressure. We have previously shown that in treated hypertensive patients on a daily fish meal as part of a weight-reducing regimen, substantial blood pressure reduction was achieved over a 4 month period. We now aim to assess in overweight, men and women, who are taking medication for high blood pressure, the effects of a health promotion program which focuses on improved dietary education and includes increased dietary omega-3 fatty acids from fish. The program will also incorporate increased physical activity, quitting smoking and moderation of alcohol consumption. The primary aim is to reduce blood pressure and enable antihypertensive therapy to be withdrawn. It is proposed the program improve blood fats, blood glucose and insulin, and components of the clotting system. The results should have important implications for public health given the high prevalence of hypertensive cardiovascular disease. 190 men and women, 40-70 years, who are receiving treatment for high blood pressure, will be recruited from the general community. Patients will be randomly allocated to either: 1) continue their usual diet and usual care, or 2) commence a health promotion program which includes information on improved dietary habits, increased physical activity, moderation in alcohol consumption, as well as quitting smoking. These subjects will be given an individual dietary program to reduce caloric intake and they will also be asked to include fish meals as part of their diet on at least 4 days of the week. Subjects in the usual care group (control group) will be provided with literature from the National Heart Foundation and will be offered weight control counselling at the end of the study.Read moreRead less
Neuroendocrine Mechanisms By Which Leptin Regulates Reproduction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,750.00
Summary
The reproductive system is sensitive to alterations in body weight. In particular, low body weight causes the reproductive system to cease functioning. This is because the brain 'senses' metabolic status and responds by ceasing to secrete the brain hormone that drives the reproductive process. This hormone is gonadotropin releasing hormone that acts on the pituitary gland to control the release of gonadotropins. These, in turn, act on the gonads. How the brain perceives metabolic status is not k ....The reproductive system is sensitive to alterations in body weight. In particular, low body weight causes the reproductive system to cease functioning. This is because the brain 'senses' metabolic status and responds by ceasing to secrete the brain hormone that drives the reproductive process. This hormone is gonadotropin releasing hormone that acts on the pituitary gland to control the release of gonadotropins. These, in turn, act on the gonads. How the brain perceives metabolic status is not known. Leptin is a hormone that is produced by fat and acts on the brain. This appears to be one of the means by which the reproductive system is regulated. Leptin also regulates food intake and other brain processes. Leptin acts on specific cell types in the brain. Some of these may have dual function to regulated appetite as well as reproduction. The present proposal is for work to determine mechanisms within the brain that are altered by leptin. We will also determine which specific mechanisms relate to the regulation of gonadotropin releasing hormone. The work will provide information on how putative appetite regulators might affect the reproductive axis. Such work will provide a platform for design of pharmaceutical means to manipulate the reproductive axis and will impact on the design of drugs that regulate obesity. It is possible that drugs that developed to control obesity may affect the reproductive axis and the project will identify these.Read moreRead less
TELEPHONE COUNSELLING FOR MAINTENANCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, WEIGHT LOSS And GLYCAEMIC CONTROL IN TYPE 2 DIABETES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,285,894.00
Summary
Regular exercise, a healthy diet and weight loss are key to managing type 2 diabetes, yet these are major challenges for most people with diabetes. This study will evaluate the impact of a telephone counselling program to assist people with type 2 diabetes to exercise, eat a healthy diet and lose weight, with the goal of helping them to sustain these changes over the long-term. It is expected that these lifestyle changes will also result in improved blood glucose control and quality of life.
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.
An Investigation Of Physiological Adapatations Contributing To Weight Regain After Weight Loss
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,897.00
Summary
Why we gain weight, and why it s hard to maintain weight loss, is the focus of this study. We can regulate food intake by voluntary control in the short term ( dieting ), but our long term ability to control food intake is more complex. Many proteins work together to regulate food intake, as do circulating factors in our blood. Before and after weight loss, subjects feelings of hunger and satiety will be examined so that we can identify pathways that are involved in successful weight loss.