Associate ProfessorKristy Bolton

Associate Professor

Faculty of Health/School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences/Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition

  • Associate Professor
    Faculty of Health/School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences/Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition
  • +61 3 522 78277 (Work)
  • Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr Kristy Bolton is currently involved in a variety of obesity-related
research projects. Her research focuses on the correlates of overweight and
obesity in infants, children and adolescents. These correlates include dietary
and physical activity-related behaviours, quality of life, ethnicity,
anthropometry and genetics. Kristy has applied this knowledge to designing,
implementing and evaluating community-based obesity prevention interventions.
Kristy is also currently involved in assessing dietary salt intake in adults.

Projects
Projects:
Kristy was an implementation specialist involved in implementing and
evaluating a complex community-based systems approach tackling childhood
obesity across Great South Coast of Victoria (Whole of Systems Trial of
Prevention Strategies for Childhood Obesity: WHO STOPS Childhood Obesity,
funded by an NHMRC Partnerships Project grant) 2016-2020
Kristy evaluated a state-wide salt reduction program by assessing sodium
consumption in adults via urine collection and dietary recall (funded by an
NHMRC Partnerships Project grant) 2016-2020
Kristy is also examining infant feeding practices (breastfeeding/formula
feeding/introduction of solids) and infant growth trajectories in Asian
immigrants compared to non-immigrants living in Australia

Kristy has been involved in the following projects:
Evaluating a community-based obesity prevention intervention: Health
Promoting Communities: Being Active Eating Well initiative; a large-scale,
multi-setting project spanning six communities across Victoria (5,000 primary
and secondary school students, 500 working adults)
Investigating associations of adolescent health-related quality of life with
weight status, age, gender, geographic location (i.e. rural vs. urban)

GRANTS

  • GRANT
    Scoping review of environmental impact of consuming different dietary patterns, protein-rich foods and ultra processed foods in the Australian context
    30 Jun 2025 - 30 Mar 2026
    People funded by this grant:
    Scoping review of the environmental impact of consuming different dietary patterns, protein-rich foods and ultra processed foods in the Australiat - $86,951.79
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Response to the City of Greater Geelong Developing a healthy food policy approach Phase 2
    1 Apr 2024 - 31 Aug 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    City of Greater Geelong - D24-283445 - $22,272.73
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    The evaluation of Vichealth's Food Hubs on local food systems.
    20 Nov 2023 - 31 Mar 2026
    People funded by this grant:
    VicHealth - OPP-28432 - $148,426.00
  • GRANT
    Systems Thinking with Active Implementation Research (STAIR) to prevent childhood obesity: an effectiveness-implementation trial
    1 Aug 2023 - 31 Jul 2028
    People funded by this grant:
    NHMRC - Partnership Project - 2023737 - $1,406,917.90
  • GRANT
    Systems Thinking with Active Implementation Research (STAIR) to prevent childhood obesity: an effectiveness-implementation trial
    1 Aug 2023 - 31 Jul 2028
    People funded by this grant:
    VicHealth - NHMRC Partnership Project Grants - $100,000.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    It takes s village: a neighbourhood approach to improve health and wellbeing.
    17 Jul 2023 - 29 Aug 2025
    People funded by this grant:
    VicHealth Grant - Research - OPP-27627 - $228,000.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    TransformUs Wellbeing
    17 Jul 2023 - 29 Aug 2025
    People funded by this grant:
    VicHealth - OPP-27626 - $228,000.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Healthy Schools, Healthy Early Childhood Services and Healthy Workplaces Achievement Program review
    29 Dec 2022 - 30 Jun 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    DH VIC - Grants Department of Health Victoria - $161,279.59
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Southern Grampians and Glenelg Primary School Health Behaviours Monitoring Study 2023.
    1 Nov 2022 - 30 Nov 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    Western District Health Service - $102,241.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    The City of Greater Geelong Developing a healthy food policy approach.
    1 Aug 2022 - 28 Nov 2022
    People funded by this grant:
    City of Greater Geelong - $18,181.81
  • GRANT
    Review of, and update, the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Overweight and Obesity for Adults, Adolescents and Children in Australia.
    8 Jun 2022 - 30 Jun 2026
    People funded by this grant:
    National Health and Medical Research Council - RFQ Health/21-22/792 - $1,914,402.42
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    NHMRC evidence review iodine-RFx5845 iodine (internal NHMRC number 2020-21RFQ009).
    19 Feb 2021 - 28 Jun 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    National Health and Medical Research Council - $129,514.90
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    NHMRC evidence review sodium - RFx5844 sodium (internal NHMRC number: 2020-21RFQ008).
    19 Feb 2021 - 29 Feb 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    National Health and Medical Research Council - $168,269.15
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Assistance in strengthening Ballarat Community Health's delivery and impact on healthy eating and active living in their community.
    1 Feb 2020 - 9 Apr 2020
    People funded by this grant:
    Ballarat Community Health - CONTR2020/00338 - $24,495.00
  • FELLOWSHIP
    Preventing chronic diseases in rural populations for future generations: The role of rural health services in guiding community efforts to improve the food environment.
    1 Mar 2019 - 31 May 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    Western Alliance - WA-817272 - $82,549.00
  • GRANT
    What is the relationship between diet quality and health-related quality of life in rural, Victorian adolescents (12-18 years old)?
    25 Nov 2013 - 31 Dec 2014
    People funded by this grant:
    Windermere Foundation Grant - Research - SG14-09 - $14,991.20