The aim of the NHMRC funded Centre for Research Excellence in the Early Prevention of Obesity in Childhood (CRE-EPOCH) is to reduce the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related behaviours in the first five years of life, and their future impact. It is a unique collaboration involving QUT, Deakin University, the University of South Australia, University of Otago and the University of Sydney. Research work is organised as four inter-related research streams:
- Analysing interventions to prevent obesity in early childhood;
- Advancing assessment of obesity-related behaviours;
- Economic evaluation of early childhood obesity prevention, and
- Translation of evidence into policy and practice
Professor Stewart Trost leads the QUT node of stream 2. Advancing assessment of obesity-related behaviours, while Dr Rebecca Byrne is the post-doctoral research fellow. This stream aims to
- Develop rapid, validated measurement tools of key obesity-related behaviours (dietary intake, physical activity, sleep and sedentary time) in infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children that are feasible for policy and practice purposes, including the evaluation of scaled-up early obesity prevention programs.
- Develop user-friendly, accessible, on-line resources (the measurement tools plus data management and analytical protocols) to help researchers, practitioners and educators in their use of these measurement tools.