On this page:

• Research program
• Research support (2008/09)

Research program

This is for research wholly based at CHW:

Obesity treatment interventions

We have undertaken a range of studies looking at options for treating children and adolescents affected by obesity. We have been one of two sites conducting the innovative PEACH Trial which looked at the effect of parenting interventions on weight outcomes for pre-adolescent children. The Loozit study is a community-based weight management program for obese adolescents. Additional work has included participation in major systematic reviews of obesity treatment in children and adolescents, and qualitative studies of adolescent-parental interactions around weight issues. This suite of studies includes some of the first lower-cost obesity treatment interventions for use in community-settings.

Measurement of physical activity in preschoolers

Paediatric physiotherapist and PhD student, Genevieve Dwyer, has developed and validated a tool for measuring physical activity in preschool-aged children (Pre-PAQ). Prior to this there were no simple tools available for professionals to use to measure physical activity levels in large groups of 3–5 year olds.

Inflammation in adipose tissue

PhD student, Charmaine Tam, is conducting gene expression and immunohistochemistry studies looking at fat tissue obtained from healthy children undergoing routine planned surgery. These studies are among the first in the world to look at the developmental changes in fat tissue in children as they grow.

Research support (2008/09)

The Loozit weight management trial in adolescents
Baur L A, Steinbeck K S, Hill A J
Heart Foundation of Australia Grant-in-Aid G0853783 ($64,500 p.a. for 2 years)

Clinical and community studies of child and adolescent obesity research: a co-ordinated approach
Baur L A, Wake M, Steinbeck K S
Foundation for Children ($60,000 p.a. for 2 years)

Loozit: a community-based healthy, active living program for overweight and obese young people aged 13-16 years
Baur L A, Steinbeck K S, Hill A J
Foundation for Children ($60,000 p.a. for 2 years)

Planning for the dissemination of the Loozit® Program into the wider community
Baur L A, Steinbeck K S, Hill A J
Estate of the Late RT Hall. 2009: ($109,516 over 2 years)

Validation of the Pre-PAQ
Baur L A, Dwyer G, Hardy L
Coles Community Development Fund ($49,000 over 2 years)

The Loozit program: weight management with prolonged communication support in overweight and obese young people
Baur L A, Steinbeck K, O'Connor J
Macquarie Bank Foundation ($45,000 over 3 years)

The Loozit program: weight management with prolonged communication support in overweight and obese young people
Baur L A, Steinbeck K, O'Connor J
Estate of the Late RT Hall Bequest ($182,625 over 3 years)

NHMRC Postgraduate Research Scholarships in 2008/09

• Ms Genevieve Dwyer
• Ms Vanessa Shrewsbury
• Ms Charmaine Tam

Diet intervention for adolescents with prediabetes
Garnett S P, Cowell C T, Baur L A, Noakes N
Heart Foundation of Australia Grant-in-Aid G0853758 ($65,000 p.a. for 2 years)

The role of dietary protein and exercise in pre-diabetic adolescents
Garnett S P, Cowell C T, Baur L A
MBF Foundation ($397,975 over 3 years)

An RCT examining the effect of two different dietary interventions on insulin resistance in adolescents
Garnett S P, Cowell C T, Baur L A, Noakes M
Diabetes Australia Research Trust ($49,160 over 1 year)