Alliance for Research in Exercise Nutrition and Activity

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:54): Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the launch of the University of South Australia Alliance for Research in Exercise Nutrition and Activity (ARENA). The event was opened by Professor Jon Buckley, who is the director of ARENA and with us today. The official launch of ARENA was undertaken by Professor Robert Vink, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the health sciences division at the University of South Australia.

ARENA brings together what were previously three research groups at the university into one larger entity: the Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, the Health and Use of Time Research Group and the Exercise for Health and Human Performance Research Group. These groups were all engaged in research looking at the effects of diet, exercise and lifestyle activities on health and sport performance.

Based on data from the Australian Research Council, the research activities in which ARENA is engaged, and its level of performance, place the University of South Australia as one of the top five institutions in the country regarding both nutrition and dietetic research, and human movement and sports and science research. It is the leader in South Australia in such research. Clearly, this is great for South Australia.

An example of the research work undertaken by ARENA is the tracking of fatigue in athletes to determine optimal performance regimes so that they can perform at their best in competition. To this end, ARENA is working with a firm to take to market a device that can track fatigue. Patents for intellectual property have been issued in the US and are pending in Australia and Europe.

Another research initiative is looking at the effect of continuous dieting versus intermittent dieting. Results today indicate that intermittent dieting can be just as effective as continuous dieting; that is, a week on the diet plan and one week off can be as effective as continuous dieting. Yet another research initiative is on web-based intervention, encouraging people to maintain active and healthy lifestyles. This research is looking at the impact of social media and other web-based applications on motivating people to keep active and healthy.

Another area ARENA is involved in is the Active Healthy Kids Australia Physical Activity Report Card, an initiative to try to address the growing level of obesity occurring amongst young Australians; another is the verification and granting of health claims for cocoa flavanols improving blood flow for the European Food Safety Authority. Another area is omega-3 fatty acids improving heart health for Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, and another again is the National Health and Medical Research Council approved 'Evidence-based guidelines for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome'.

ARENA is also an arbiter for the Australian Food and Grocery Council's Responsible Children's Marketing and Quick-Service Restaurant initiatives. These initiatives are aimed at reducing the advertising of unhealthy foods to children. This is particularly relevant in trying to address childhood obesity. ARENA is playing a critical role in investigating the role of exercise, nutrition and other lifestyle activities for health and performance. Clearly, the research and other activities carried out by ARENA have important implications for governments, both state and federal, particularly in relation to public health.

One of the state government's 10 strategic priorities is to be 'a global leader in health research and ageing'. SAHMRI is a critical part of that strategy and at the heart of our health and biomedical precinct, and it is and will be significantly increasing the state's capacity for leading research. The University of South Australia is playing an important role in that facility, and ARENA is also playing a critical role in enhancing our state's health research.

ARENA is collaborating with researchers at SAHMRI. I wish the newly formed ARENA all the best in its endeavours, and I am sure it will continue to be at the forefront of leading-edge research in this state, which is critical for the state's future.