The Alternate Day Fasting Diet In Adolescents With Obesity: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,007,545.00
Summary
One in four Australian adolescents is overweight or obese. While short-term weight loss is possible, keeping the weight off long term is difficult. We will test whether the alternate day fasting diet is effective, safe and acceptable to adolescents. We will undertake a trial involving adolescents aged 13-17 years who are affected by obesity: they will be randomised to receive either the alternate day fasting diet, or a standard weight control diet.
Obesity In The Elderly: Impact Of Weight Loss Therapy On Physiology And Function.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,213.00
Summary
The aim of this study is to assess the safety, tolerability, weight-loss efficacy, change in lean body mass and impact of cognition of three approaches to treat obesity in the elderly. We will compare dietary advice, an energy reduced diet and a very low calorie diet. All three groups will also have an exercise program. This study will be of major assistance in developing management guidelines for obesity in the elderly, which will likely be an emerging public health issue.
Improving Weight Loss By Intermittent Use Of Very Low Energy Diet: The TANGO Diet Trial (Temporary Phases Of Accelerated Weight Loss For Noticeably Greater Outcomes)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$660,736.00
Summary
Very low energy diet (VLED) is being increasingly used for the treatment of obesity, but the resultant weight loss is usually transient, partly because it induces powerful adaptive responses that inhibit weight loss and promote regain. We have shown that 'taking a break from dieting' for 2 weeks reduces these adaptive responses. In this project we will thus test whether weight loss outcomes with VLED can be improved via intermittent use, where periods on the VLED are alternated with 'breaks'.
Identification Of Microbiome Control Of Weight Loss During Dietary Intervention In Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$644,667.00
Summary
We will develop diagnostic tests that enable prediction of the optimal weight loss diet for patients. Obesity is a growing problem in Australia and weight loss is of proven health benefit. Dieting is capable of delivering useful weight loss but long term success rates are poor. The variable success rates are linked to differences in gut microbiota. Diagnostic tests based on the gut microbiota in stool samples will allow identification of the optimal weight loss diet for individuals.
Mechanisms Underlying The Efficacy Of Bariatric Surgery – Insights From Rat Models Of Sleeve Gastrectomy And The Adjustable Gastric Band
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$868,472.00
Summary
Bariatric surgery is the only effective treatment for morbid obesity. In order to better understand the mechanistic bases of two such procedures, the adjustable gastric band and sleeve gastrectomy, we have developed rodent models. Here we use these models to better understand the physiology and pathophysiology of these surgeries and extend these findings to inform part of a RCT aimed at identifying the basis for effective joint surgical and medicinal treatments of 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.
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.
Predicting The Successful Resolution Of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Following Weight-loss Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$729,284.00
Summary
The current project aims to determine how obesity causes obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a disorder associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity & mortality. This research is a burgeoning area given that obesity is one of the western world’s leading health care concerns. Our findings may ultimately offer a refinement of weight-loss interventions to maximise their effects on OSA as well as offering novel treatment strategies in the management of this disorder that is desperately needed.
Preventing Weight Gain In Young To Mid-aged Women Living In Rural Communities;a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$896,169.00
Summary
Women living in rural communities are gaining weight faster than their urban counterparts. The prevention of weight gain in young rural women presents an opportunity that is urgently needed with potential for major benefits to physical, metabolic and reproductive health. The aim of this project is to prevent weight gain in women of reproductive age living in small rural communities, to improve the preventable risk factors for chronic disease such as poor diet quality and physical activity and to ....Women living in rural communities are gaining weight faster than their urban counterparts. The prevention of weight gain in young rural women presents an opportunity that is urgently needed with potential for major benefits to physical, metabolic and reproductive health. The aim of this project is to prevent weight gain in women of reproductive age living in small rural communities, to improve the preventable risk factors for chronic disease such as poor diet quality and physical activity and to conduct a comprehensive economic evaluation.Read moreRead less
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.