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National funding to help foster healthier food environments and fight RHDResearch teams led by The Kids Research Institute Australia have been awarded $3.75 million to support two innovative projects – one focused on pioneering a national ‘Food Atlas’ to map access to healthy and unhealthy food across the country, and the other on developing new ways to prevent Strep throat and rheuma
Research
Macronutrients in Human Milk and Early Childhood Growth—Is Protein the Main Driver?Infant growth trajectories reflect current health status and may predict future obesity and metabolic diseases. Human milk is tailored to support optimal infant growth. However, nutrient intake rather than milk composition more accurately predicts growth outcomes. Although the role of protein leverage in infant growth is unclear, protein intake is important for early infancy growth.
Research
Exploring Sugary Drink Consumption and Perceptions among Primary-School-Aged Children and Parents in AustraliaSugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) account for a significant proportion of sugar in the diet of children and are directly associated with obesity in this group. While there have been many studies on adolescent SSB consumption, few studies have examined the predictors of SSB consumption in primary-school-aged children. The aim of this study was to understand the degree to which a child's consumption across a range of beverages is influenced by their own attitudes and by their parents' attitudes and parents' consumption behaviours.
Research
Parent and Child Choice of Sugary Drinks Under Four Labelling ConditionsThe majority of Australian children exceed the World Health Organization's recommended dietary intake of free sugar, particularly through the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Front-of-pack nutrition labels increase perceived risk and deter the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
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Prospective associations between sugar-sweetened beverage intakes and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescentsWe tested the hypothesis that higher SSB intakes are associated with increases in cardiometabolic risk factors between 14 and 17 y of age.
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A mixed-methods evaluation of a health-promoting café located in a small health service in rural Victoria, AustraliaResidents of rural areas internationally typically experience chronic disease risk profiles worse than city dwellers. Poor diet, a key driver of chronic disease, has been associated with unhealthy food environments, and rural areas often experience limited access to healthy, fresh and affordable food.
Research
The Addition of Fish Oil to Cognitive Behavioral Case Management for Youth Depression: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Clinical TrialClinical trials suggest that long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) (fish oil) may reduce depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder. Therefore, n-3 PUFAs may be a potential treatment for depression in youth.
Research
The Influence of Grandparents on Children’s Dietary Health: A Narrative ReviewTo examine and synthesise recent evidence on the role of grandparents in shaping children's dietary health.
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Low intake of B-vitamins is associated with poor adolescent mental health and behaviourThe current prevalence of mental health problems in Western populations is approximately 20% and half of all adult mental health disorders are estimated to...
Research
Infant feeding and obesity risk in the childEarly nutrition in infancy may influence later child health outcomes including overweight through 'programming'.