Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2024

Chickens versus Eggs - Using digital health to support personalise nutrition (#41)

Clare Collins 1 2
  1. School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW
  2. Food and Nutrition Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights,, NSW

Research has synthesised dietary approaches that can be targetted within lifestyle interventions. However, accessing nutrition expertise can be challenging for individuals. Personalised nutrition (PN) is the development and application of individualised medical nutrition therapy based on utilising multiple data sources, including genetics, microbiome, phenotype, health status, dietary patterns and lifestyle characteristics. The aim is to present recent developments in strategies used to personalise dietary interventions for health gain. It will also examine advances in technology to promote dietary and lifestyle intervention delivery and uptake, ranging from AI to telehealth to digital twins.

While current research suggests that PN interventions may improve chronic disease risk factors, the current body of evidence is too limited to provide definitive recommendations regarding obesity treatment approaches. A greater understanding of factors contributing to variation in treatment response is needed to inform and refine PN approaches.

While assessing dietary intake remains important, future integration of metabolomic biomarkers will facilitate development and application of personalised nutrition recommendations for both treatment and monitoring of health and chronic disease risk.

Having technology systems in place that securely link personalised data with eHealth tools, including data analytics and visualisation for use in PN deliver are needed. Tools to help translate nutrition research evidence to practical applications using technologies will be discussed. This includes telehealth platforms to facilitate intervention uptake and reach, data collection and sharing across health systems, as well as algorithms that synthesise complex health datasets so they can be utilised to support individuals in achieving optimal nutrition, well-being and adiposity-related health. for clients.

Building research capacity and communities of practice will ensure future PN interventions are disseminated, effective and impactful. Recommendations aimed at both the chicken and the egg will be presented with a goal to improve dietary patterns, nutrition and adiposity-related health and wellbeing outcomes for all.