Chronic diseases
World-first study improves health outcomes for young people with high weight
High weight and obesity impacts around 1 in 4 children in Australia. The Fast Track to Health study compared the impacts of two different eating plans for young people identified to be at risk for diabetes, heart disease and or liver disease due to their excess weight.
Within the first 4 weeks of the study, participants showed a reduction in symptoms of depression, eating disorders and binge eating. After 12 months, they showed improvements in their body composition and liver function. Between the two eating plans, there were no differences found in producing improved outcomes.
The research was led by the Obesity Research team at Kids Research, in collaboration with the Be Active Sleep Eat (BASE) facility at Monash University and Monash Children's Hospital.
Improving how we deliver care to children with chronic kidney disease
A patient navigator program called NAVKIDS2, is being trialled to improve the overall health and well-being of children with chronic kidney disease living in remote areas or experiencing low socioeconomic status.
Patient navigator roles were assigned to support participants and their families to navigate through their complex healthcare journey. Participants ranged from infants to early teens and included those with early-stage kidney disease, on dialysis or with kidney transplants. Findings of the trial show support and skill development for caregivers relating to providing and accessing care.
NAVKIDS2 is being led by Prof Germaine Wong, Academic Transplant Nephrologist and Clinical Director of the Centre for Kidney Research based at Kids Research and was published in leading international journal, Kidney International. NAVKIDS2 was also presented at the Australian New Zealand Society of Nephology 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting by caregiver and Research Fellow Dr Chandana Guha, who won the 2024 Kidney Health Australia Clinical Science Award.
Risks and protective factors for paediatric inflammatory bowel disease
The number of children and young people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have doubled in the last 25 years. While rates of IBD are increasing, the cause of IBD is not yet understood.
Researchers led a systematic review highlighting the key factors that may influence the risk of IBD in children. These included early-life exposures to frequent antibiotic use, passive smoking, not being breastfed and sugar sweetened foods/drinks.
The research was led by Paediatric IBD Dietitian, Ms Nisha Thacker, and was published in the Journal of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.