Dr. Hattie H Wright

Associate professor Wright’s program of research aims to improve the health outcomes of individuals living with chronic disease through adequate nutrition and healthy behaviours with the ultimate goal to improve health-related quality of life and reduce disease burden. Wright’s doctoral thesis and early research focused on sports nutrition, specifically eating behaviour of female athletes and its effect on health and performance. More recently Wright’s research focus shifted towards older adults and populations presenting with non-communicable disease (NCDs). Nutrition, as a health behaviour, plays a vital role in maintaining health but also manage NCDs thereby improving the quality of life of individuals and reduce the burden on the health care system. Wright’s research provides insight into the factors that influence health behaviours (specifically healthy eating and exercise) and strategies to enhance self-management of these behaviours, as well as investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and health outcomes (e.g., cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal). In addition, Wright is interested in real-life translation of research into practice aiming to enhance access to allied health services and information, particularly for individuals living in regional and rural areas