Submission to the Social Development Committee of the South Australian Parliament on Fast Food & Obesity.

The NOBLE Study
Eight multi-disciplinary PhD candidates are working on the project. The study of individual candidates can be found alongside their biography. Each study has access to the Northwest Adelaide Health Cohort Study (NWAHS). This is a biomedical and anthropological study of n=4000 South Australians that is now in its fifth year. It has just completed its second biomedical assessment of the total study group and the data has attracted international interest.

The study data has been made more valuable by linkage to Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data.  This will allow economic analyses of many aspects of obesity to take place. The NWAHS has also collected comprehensive data on mental health and quality of life.

An important aspect of the NOBLE study is the use of geographical information systems (GIS) to investigate the space and place of obesity.  Space refers to position or location of obesity and describes the geographical factors (constraints and opportunities) that influence its occurrence that develop from human interactions and activities and environmental influences. Place is a relational concept addressing the meanings that are attached to particular locations where obesity occurs that may contrast with meanings where obesity is less likely to occur.

The NOBLE project is based on an ARC Linkage grant and its aims are:

1.          To establish the extent to which obesity is associated with, and influenced by, socio-economic factors.

2.         To establish the extent to which obesity is associated with, and influenced by, environmental phenomena.

3.         To examine the effects of obesity on social inclusion in labour markets, housing markets and society generally.

4.          To clarify the major risk factors of obesity in children and adults.

5.          To establish and explain variations in obesity between different types of suburban communities.

6.          To examine and clarify the links between obesity and physical and mental health, including chronic disease.

7.          To draw out the policy implications for preventative interventions relating to obesity.

8.          To draw out the policy implications for the treatment of obesity.

9.          To draw out the policy implications for environmental health.