Cate Lombard

PhD researcher, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Monash University has helped dietitian Cate Lombard take her important research on obesity prevention to the world.

The PhD researcher used a Monash Postgraduate Travel Grant to deliver her work at the European Congress on Obesity in Geneva and the International Society for behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity in Banff, Canada.

"It was important to deliver my final results to the research community at large," she said.

"First of all, this was important research in an area where there is little evidence to date. "And secondly, I have tried to make my research practical and relevant to different populations and following my presentations I had requests from Germany, Switzerland, the US, Canada and India for more information.”

Cate, who has long been interested in the prevention of disease rather than treatment, said there was a large gap in research in the area of obesity and associated chronic diseases.

She said Monash's strong history in medical research and access to expert associated research centres, such as the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health Research Unit, made the University a logical partner for her research.

"In many countries obesity is now of epidemic proportions and there is little evidence of successful obesity prevention in population in any country”.

So Cate set about tracking down experts in different fields throughout Monash to discuss methodology and measurement, and the intervention. "From that what I developed was successful and I hope to see it expanded and used widely.”

Cate has co-authored five publications, and her research has already been adapted to prevent excess weight gain and gestational diabetes in pregnant woman.