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Obesity Research Unit

The Obesity Research Unit was established within the Department of General Practice in the School of Primary Health Care at Monash University in 2008. The Unit is headed by A/Prof John Dixon who was previously Head of Clinical Studies at Monash's Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE).

Mission

Improve understanding of the pathophysiology, psychology and social wellbeing of the obese person in order to deliver improved health outcomes.

The unit aims to improve the health of obese people nationally and internationally by:

  • developing high calibre research capacity through collaboration and partnership
  • producing research findings that can be translated to practice at a primary, secondary and tertiary health provider level

Research aims and current studies

The unit aims to design and implement studies of the highest calibre with the following objectives:

  • Better understand the obese person including psychological, physiological and social morbidities and comorbidities
  • Use a range of weight loss interventions to explore health outcomes for the obese population
  • Disseminate evidence rapidly and effectively
  • Define and address advocacy gaps in collaboration with complementary research groups

Current studies

1. A randomised controlled trial of the effect of substantial weight loss on obstructive sleep apnoea.

Obesity, especially upper body obesity, is a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Using a prospective randomized control trial format, this study will compare the effect of substantial surgical induced weight loss as an addition to conventional therapy in the management of obese (BMI 32-50kg/m2) subjects with moderate to severe sleep apnoea. The findings from this initial observational study will guide the development of further trials of this weight loss device.

2. Developing and implementing best childhood obesity strategies in general practice

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.

This study will be conducted in Victorian practices. The control program will involve a comprehensive professional development training workshop and the test program involves the collaborative Breakthrough Series methodology.

Research partners and collaborators

Clinical studies of obesity are conducted in partnership with The Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute

http://www.bakeridi.edu.au/research/

A number of other research collaborators work with the Unit including:

Postgraduate students

If you are interested in undertaking a higher degree in the field of obesity research please contact Dr Kay Jones or A/Prof John Dixon.

Team members

A/Professor John Dixon
Dr Kay Jones
Mrs Maureen Dixon
Mrs Leah Falkingham
Ms Julie Nguyen
Ms Toni McGee

Supporting obesity research

Monash online donation https://advancement.monash.edu.au/donation/index.aspx?qID=04F