Healthy Weight

A healthy weight for all children is a top Australian public health priority. Not only are 1 in 4 children now overweight or obese, but the number of underweight children may also be rising. Both have long-term health, social and economic consequences. 

It’s no secret that it’s hard to reverse established obesity. That’s why we research prevention and early treatment. Our studies investigate why and how weight problems develop and how primary health professionals can manage early signs of childhood obesity. With our hospital and IT colleagues, we’re harmonising obesity research across our campus, and using the latest technologies for translation.

Research Overview

Population-based (epidemiologic) research focuses on population trends in weight, what happens as children grow, and what influences the development and resolution of obesity. Our studies include:

• large cross-sectional surveys - eg Healthy Neighbourhoods, Victorian Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Survey
• longitudinal studies following children over time:
  
  • infancy to late childhood - eg PEAS Kids Growth Study, Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
  • childhood to adolescence – eg Health of Young Victorians Study
  • adolescence to young adulthood – eg Victorian Adolescent Cohort Study. 

Our intervention trials work with general practitioners and RCH specialists to better manage childhood obesity in the community. This is important because most obese children are not sick – so tertiary services are neither needed nor available.

Major collaborations

• The Multidisciplinary Paediatric Overweight and Weight Research group brings together clinicians, scientists and population health researchers across our campus to work collaboratively on weight research.
• The Childhood Obesity BioRepository of Australia (COBRA) is open to children in our community studies, as well as those attending tertiary weight management services
• The Victorian Obesity Consortium
• The Australasian Child & Adolescent Obesity Research Network