Current Projects
Obesity Prevention
Title: Development of a culturally appropriate Type 2 diabetes prevention program for Indigenous primary-school aged children.
Investigators: Gwynn J, Clay L, Booth ML, Smith W, Wiggers J.
Funding: Various funding sources.
Timeline:
Description
This multi-phase research program aims to develop a better understanding of the patterns of physical activity and food habits (and their determinants) among Indigenous primary-school aged children and to respond with intervention programs in order to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes and related disorders.
Title: ‘Growing Years Project’ - the development of a food and nutrition and physical activity project for pregnancy and early life in urban locations
Investigators: Hughes R, Hills AP et al
Funding: Health Promotion Queensland (Queensland Health)
Timeline: 2005-2010
Title: ‘Prevention of childhood obesity in Queensland children’
Investigators: Hills AP
Funding: John Christopher Pascoe Memorial Charitable Trust (Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd.)
Timeline: 2006
Title:‘It’s Your Move!’ Promoting physical activity and healthy eating in adolescents.
Investigators: Boyd Swinburn, Colin Bell, Anne Simmons
Funding: Department of Human Services Victoria
Timeline: 3 years from January 2005
Description
Funding for an intervention promoting physical activity and healthy eating in adolescents in East Geelong / Bellarine
See http://www.deakin.edu.au/hbs/who-obesity/
Title: ‘Romp and Chomp’ project
Investigators: Boyd Swinburn, Colin Bell, Anne Simmons
Funding: Department of Human Services Barwon South Western Region
Timeline: 1 year from January 2005
Description
Intervention funding for the Romp and Chomp project - a project that aims to encourage healthy eating and active play among children 5 years and under.
See http://www.deakin.edu.au/hbs/who-obesity/
Title: ‘Energy expenditure, physical activity level and body composition in people with psychotic illness’
Investigators: Hills AP, Sharpe J-K, Stedman T, Byrne NM
Funding: Queensland University of Technology Strategic Links with Industry Scheme, Queensland Health
Timeline: 2005
Title: Contextual influences on children’s and adolescents’ physical activity
Investigators; Crawford D, Salmon J, Timperio A, Ball K, Giles-Corti B, Baur L
Funding: National Health and Medical Research Council
Timeline: 2004-2006
Description
This project aims to examine prospectively the influence of family and local neighbourhood contexts on physical activity and sedentary behaviours in children and adolescents.
Title: Nutritional interventions in acute and chronic paediatric disease
Investigator: PSW Davies
Funding; Mayne Bequest Funds, School of Medicine, University of Queensland
Timeline: 2004-2006
Title: An educational package for the prevention of eating disorders in children and adolescents”
Investigators: PSW Davies, RJ Hill
Funding:Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation
Timeline: 2004-2005
Title: Exploration of resilient behaviours in relation to diet and physical activity in low SES communities
Investigator: J Dollman
Funding: University of South Australia Collaborative Grants Scheme
Timeline: 2004-2005
Description
This study seeks to identify the psychosocial and environmental attributes of families of children in low SES suburban Adelaide who exhibit healthy eating and physical activity behaviours. From this study we may learn more about how healthy lifestyles can be maintained in largely unsupportive macro-environments.
Title: Sentinel Site for Obesity Prevention.
Investigators: Swinburn BA, Bell AC, Snell J, Walsh H, Watson R, Egger G, Jolley D, Murphy B, Marshall B.
Funding: Department of Health and Ageing, Victorian Department of Human Srvices
Timeline: July 2002 – Dec 2005
Description
This project provides the training, support and evaluation for three, community-based obesity prevention programs in the Barwon-SW Region of Victoria. The Colac ‘Be Active Eat Well’ project is funded by Victorian DHS (July 2002 – July 2006) and primarily targets primary school children and their families. The Greater Geelong ‘Romp and Chomp’ project is currently funded (2005-2008) by Barwon Health, DHS (Barwon-SW) and ARC and it primarily targets preschool children and their families. The East Geelong / Bellarine ‘It’s Your Move!’ project is funded by DHS and NHMRC (2005-2007) and primarily targets secondary school children and their families.
Title: Pacific OPIC Project: a 4-country study of Obesity Prevention In Communities.
Investigators: Swinburn BA, Scragg R, Pryor J.
Funding: Wellcome Trust (UK), NHMRC (Australia), Health Research Council (NZ)
Timeline: June 2004 – June 2009
Description
This large project involves community-based intervention programs in adolescents in Australia (‘It’s Your Move!’ above), South Auckland, Fiji, and Tonga. In addition there are assessments of the costs of childhood obesity in these countries and the costs of the programs being established. Another set of studies focuses on the socio-cultural factors in obesity and also studies will be undertaken on the policy-based approaches to obesity in the Pacific.
Title: “Fun ‘n healthy in Moreland!” – A school-community based obesity prevention and health promotion research and intervention study
Investigators: L Waters, B Swinburn, L Gold, L Gibbs, M Booth, SK Lo, K Gibbons, A Magarey, J Green, J Garrard
Funding: Department of Sport and Recreation and the Department of Human Services – under the State “Go For Your Life” Campaign
Timeline: 2004- 2009
Description
“Fun ‘n healthy in Moreland!” is an exciting and unique project aiming to develop and implement a school-community based intervention promoting healthy eating choices, increased physical activity levels and improved social health and well-being for children and families in the City of Moreland. Moreland is an inner urban area of Melbourne with a culturally diverse population and a high proportion of families living in poverty. This is a partnership project between Deakin University and the Moreland Community Health Service.