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Acceptability, feasibility, and program outcomes of an equity-focused, adapted community-based healthy lifestyle program for children, young people, and their familiesInternational guidelines recommend multidisciplinary intervention programs for addressing childhood obesity. In Western Australia, community-based healthy lifestyle programs for children and young people are insufficient for demand, especially for those over-represented in obesity statistics relating to prevalence. This protocol outlines the implementation and evaluation of an adapted, evidenced, community-based program in Perth, Western Australia.
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Children arriving hungry in the first year of school: population trends in Australia from 2009 to 2021Access to adequate nutrition is a human right. In 2023, 23% of Australian households were severely food insecure, reducing food intake, skipping meals or days of eating. Food insecurity in early childhood is linked to poor health and development. Specifically, breakfast provides children with the necessary nutrients required for sustained attention, memory, and cognitive growth. Australian research has reported that one in three children aged 8–18 years regularly skip breakfast. However, there is little understanding of the prevalence of food insecurity among young children in Australia.
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Infant Diet Recommendations Reduce IgE-Mediated Egg, Peanut, and Cow's Milk AllergiesMeta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have found that introducing eggs and peanuts earlier during infancy reduced egg and peanut allergy risk. Hence, infant feeding advice has dramatically changed from previous recommendations of avoidance to current recommendations of inclusion of common food allergens in infant diets.
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ORIGINS: Nutritional Profile of Children Aged One Year in a Longitudinal Birth CohortDietary intake during the first year of life is a key determinant of a child's growth and development. ORIGINS is a longitudinal birth cohort study investigating factors that contribute to a 'healthy start to life' and the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
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Development of the breastfed infant oral microbiome over the first two years of life in the BLOSOM CohortAcquisition and development of the oral microbiome are dynamic processes that occur over early life. This study aimed to characterize the temporal development of the oral microbiome of predominantly breastfed infants during the first two years of life.
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A cross-sectional audit of the Australian community food environment highlights the prominent role of chain food outletsFood retail and food service outlets can be part of a chain, or independently operated. Chain food outlets are likely to have the most influence over community food environments but have not been routinely identified in studies which map and monitor access to food, highlighting an important knowledge gap. This study aimed to identify the food retail and food service outlets present within metropolitan Perth, including presence of chain and independent food outlets; and examine differences across local governments.
News & Events
Back to school: How to pack a healthy lunchbox to keep your child fuelled up for learning and playSummer holidays are nearly over, and with that, the never-ending requests for snacks that seem to come all day, every day.
News & Events
Spotlight on kids' menus shows almost all are unhealthyThe first Australian study to evaluate the nutritional content of Kids’ Menus at restaurants and cafés has found the overwhelming majority are unhealthy.
Research
Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and risk of depressive symptoms in adolescentsPrevious randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) are beneficial in reducing symptoms of depression.
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Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and blood pressure in adolescentsPolyunsaturated fatty acid intake and blood pressure in adolescents, cross-sectional associations, BP and dietary intake of PUFAs, adolescents, aged 13-15 years