The results of an Australian-first study investigating the effect of weight loss drugs combined with exercise will be the focus of two free events at The University of Western Australia next week.
UWA researchers, led by Professors Danny Green and Bu Yeap, have been involved in a world-first study exploring how body composition, muscle mass, strength and functional capacity and cardiovascular and metabolic health measures are impacted by weekly weight loss drug therapy and resistance exercise training.
Professor Green, from UWA’s School of Human Sciences, said the panels would feature a leading group of international researchers looking at transforming people’s lives through a combination of medication, diet and exercise.
“The public panel will highlight the extraordinary opportunity new research is generating globally for people who wish to extend their ‘healthspan’, which is the time they can live free of disease, enjoy a high quality of life and make a productive contribution to society and the economy,” he said.
“I’ve seen growing recognition for the concept of healthspan internationally and I think that it’s something that could make a tangible difference for the health of all Western Australians. We need to think about adding life to our years, not just years to our life.”
Professor Green, a founding member of WA’s heart transplant unit in the 1990s, said the transplant team worked hard to keep people with heart failure alive so they could receive a transplant.
“I realised that I also wanted to prevent people reaching that stage and help them stay healthy for as long as possible,” he said.
“I’m delighted to invite my international colleagues here to help me introduce the concept of healthspan to Western Australia.”
As well as the free public event to be held next Wednesday 26 November, Professor Green will also host an event on Thursday 27 November aimed at GPs, academics and health scientists, looking at how weight loss drugs and exercise affect health.
Both events will run from 6pm to 8pm at The University Club of Western Australia and are presented by The University of Western Australia, with support from Eli Lilly, HIF Health Insurance and the UWA Institute of Advanced Studies.
For more details and to register click here.