National Health and Medical Research Council

Overweight and obesity are conditions of excess body fat. For adults, overweight and obesity are measured by the Body Mass Index (BMI): weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres. A BMI over 25 is considered overweight and BMI over 30 is considered obese. [1]

Aside from genetic factors, overweight and obesity are caused by an energy imbalance, where a person’s energy intake exceeds energy expenditure over a considerable period of time. A number of risk factors for overweight and obesity — such as imbalance between energy intake and exercise, genetic factors, environmental and cultural factors — are increasingly prevalent in Australia and other nations world-wide, leading to a significant increase in the number of people with overweight and obesity.

NHMRC funding for obesity research

In the period 2004-09, NHMRC contributed over $107 million to Australian research into obesity.

Some NHMRC-funded research projects into obesity

Long term impact, capacity gains and cost effectiveness of a successful community-wide child obesity prevention program

Chief Investigator Professor Boyd Swinburn, Deakin University

Be Active, Eat Well is the first community-wide obesity prevention project to successfully reduce the weight and waist gain of children. The 'intervention' was to 'boost' community capacity to enable the local organisations to create their own solutions to childhood obesity. This research will continue to assess the project 3 years after that 'boost' to determine the long-term sustainability, impact and cost-effectiveness of this approach to prevent childhood obesity.

NHMRC Project Grant

Better outcomes for obese children in general practice: randomized controlled trial of a new shared-care model vs usual [care]

Chief Investigator Associate Professor Melissa Wake, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

Few management options are available to the 200,000 Australian children with established obesity. Paradoxically, whereas speciality obesity clinics improve body mass index (BMI) but are accessible to very few obese children, general practice is universally available - but so far frustratingly ineffectual. The project aims to trial an innovative shared-care approach to the management of childhood obesity, drawing together four established lines of research: (i) specialist child obesity approaches that are known to be effective; (ii) positive aspects of our previous child obesity prevention general practice trials; (iii) computerised support and decision assistance in primary care; and (iv) the effectiveness of shared-care approaches. Because all elements are already in place, it has a high degree of feasibility and, we believe, a high chance of success. This trial addresses the urgent need identified in the 2003 NHMRC Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents for ‘simple, well-designed intervention studies which can be translated into usual clinical practice’. An economic evaluation will be conducted to understand the costs of the new model, compared with usual care, to government and families against all outcomes at 12 months. If effective, benefits would include increased general practitioner identification of childhood obesity; a shift in focus towards younger obese children (for whom treatment is more effective and secondary prevention of morbidity is still possible); and a replicable, feasible, cost-effective primary care approach to childhood overweight/obesity tailored to the Australian health care system.

General Practice Clinical Research Grant

Improving and implementing best practice in the detection, assessment and management of childhood obesity in general practice

Chief Investigator Associate Professor John B Dixon, Monash University

Obesity is a chronic, stigmatising and costly disease that is rarely curable and is increasing in prevalence in most of the world. In Australia the number of children who are obese has increased alarmingly over the last 15 years. Recent reports indicate that 4-6% of children are obese. The identified health problems and costs of this epidemic are significant, both now and into the future. There are a number of modifiable risk factors involving family practices and behaviors, nutrition and diet, physical activity, sedentary behaviors and the environment, that are associated with the development and maintenance of childhood obesity. The aim of this project is to work with general practitioners and their primary care teams to improve the detection, assessment and treatment of obesity in children aged 4–10 years. The project will develop obesity management guidelines and a new program.

General Practice Clinical Research Grant

Improving metabolic fitness in Indigenous women: a pragmatic controlled trial of waist loss in the Torres Strait

Chief Investigator Professor Robyn McDermott, University of South Australia

Torres Strait Islanders have the highest prevalence of diabetes in Australia and weight gain in young women can increase further the risk of diabetes for themselves and their babies. Waist loss can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. A pilot study in the Torres Strait in 2007, has demonstrated that this is achievable and acceptable in young Indigenous women. This proposal aims to conduct a larger trial, to look at effectiveness and sustainability of "waist loss" in young women.

NHMRC Project Grant

Physical activity and nutrition for seniors (PANS)

Chief Investigator Professor Peter A Howat, Curtin University of Technology

Research has shown that participation in physical activity and the consumption of a healthy diet for older people can produce significant health benefits. The aim of this study is to develop and evaluate a low cost, accessible, sustainable and replicable, home based physical activity and nutrition program for older people aged 55 to 70 that will ultimately reduce chronic disease (obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease), and improve mental health.

NHMRC Project Grant

Neurobiological causes of overeating in a rodent model – hedonic versus homeostatic control

Chief Investigator Professor Margaret J Morris, University of New South Wales

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.

NHMRC Project Grant

Sources

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2008. Australia’s health 2008. Cat. no. AUS 99. Canberra: AIHW
2. Department of Health and Ageing - www.health.gov.au