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Lauren Ball

Associate Professor/ Principal Research Fellow, Griffith University
My goal is to reorient primary health care to focus on healthy lifestyles and healthy environments.

I work with community members, health professionals, education providers, and professional bodies to research how patients are better supported in primary care to eat well. I implement interventions and programs, so that general practitioners, nurses, dietitians, nutritionists, pharmacists, and other health professionals feel confident in nutrition and have the skills to meet patients’ needs. I also work with Primary Health Networks to better understand how primary care services can be reoriented to put nutrition and other lifestyle behaviours at the forefront of the health care system.

I have published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles and attracted over $3 million in research funding from government bodies, non-government organisations, and philanthropic foundations. I am a Principal Research Fellow at Griffith University with strong external funding support, including an NHMRC Investigator Grant (EL2). I am lead of Healthy Primary Care at Griffith University, Global Strategic Lead for the NNEdPro Global Centre for Nutrition and Health, Committee member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Handbook for Non-Drug Interventions, Associate Editor for the Australian Journal of Primary Health and Family Practice journal and Executive Committee member of the Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care.

Got period pain or cramps? What to eat and avoid, according to science

Dec 22, 2023 11:07 am UTC| Health

Painful periods are common. More than half of people who menstruate have some pain for up to three days a month, typically throbbing or cramping in the lower abdomen. Digestive changes such as vomiting, gas, bloating,...

How is decaf coffee made? And is it really caffeine-free?

Nov 01, 2023 07:02 am UTC| Business

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and its high levels of caffeine are among the main reasons why. Its a natural stimulant that provides an energy buzz, and we just cant get enough. However, some...

Can coffee help you avoid weight gain? Here's what the science says

Oct 15, 2023 04:04 am UTC| Health

Coffee is well recognised as having a positive impact on long-term health. Drinking the equivalent of three to four cups of instant coffee a day reduces the risk of many health conditions including heart disease, type 2...

Is TikTok right – will eating three carrots a day really give me a natural tan?

Sep 28, 2023 02:51 am UTC| Technology

A beauty trend gaining popularity on TikTok, dubbed the carrot tan, claims eating three carrots a day will give you a natural tan. But can this really give you a natural glow? And is it healthy? Why would carrots...

How can I lower my cholesterol? Do supplements work? How about psyllium or probiotics?

Sep 18, 2023 06:29 am UTC| Health

Your GP says you have high cholesterol. Youve six months to work on your diet to see if thatll bring down your levels, then youll review your options. Could taking supplements over this time help? You cant rely on...

Calories and kilojoules: how do we know the energy content of food, and how accurate are the labels?

Aug 22, 2023 04:18 am UTC| Health

Everything we consume contains energy our bodies use to move, grow and maintain health. To work out how much energy is in different foods and drinks, we need to first look at a few core concepts. Firstly, youve probably...

3 reasons you feel hungrier and crave comfort foods when the weather turns cold

Apr 06, 2023 08:01 am UTC| Health

As we move through Autumn, parts of Australia are starting to see cooler weather. For some of us, that can mean increasing feelings of hunger and cravings for comfort food such as as pasta, stews and ramen. But whats...

Economy

U.S. Imposes 26% Tariff on Indian Imports, Spares Pharma Sector

The U.S. has imposed a 26% tariff on imports from India, dealing a blow to New Delhis hopes for leniency under President Donald Trumps global trade policies. A baseline 10% tariff begins Saturday, with the full rate...

South Korea Scrambles to Mitigate Impact of Harsh U.S. Tariffs on Exports

South Koreas acting President Han Duck-soo has ordered emergency support measures for industries affected by sweeping new U.S. tariffs, including a 25% tariff on Korean automobile exports. The move follows President Donald...

Australia Criticizes Trump’s 10% Tariff, Rules Out Retaliation

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned U.S. President Donald Trumps decision to impose a 10% tariff on Australian imports, calling it not the act of a friend. The move impacts Australian beef exports,...

Australia’s Trade Surplus Drops to Four-Year Low on Weak Exports, Strong Imports

Australias trade surplus plummeted to its lowest level in over four years in February, as a sharp drop in exports and a rise in imports dealt a double blow to the countrys trade performance. The trade balance came in at...

Japan's Nikkei Tumbles as Trump Slaps 24% Tariff on Japanese Goods

Japans Nikkei 225 plunged to an eight-month low on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs, including a 24% duty on Japanese imports. The index dropped as much as 4.6% in early...

Politics

Senate Passes Bill to Block Trump’s Canada Tariffs Despite GOP Resistance

In a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump, the U.S. Senate passed a bill on Wednesday to halt newly proposed tariffs on Canada, just hours after Trump announced sweeping duties on global imports. The bill, approved...

Disability Rights Groups Sue Trump, Musk Over Social Security Cuts

Disability rights organizations and Social Security recipients have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk, accusing them of illegally slashing the Social Security...

Canada Vows Strong Response to Trump’s Tariffs

Canada will take decisive action against U.S. President Donald Trumps recently imposed tariffs, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters before a high-level cabinet meeting, Carney...

Trump Imposes 10% Reciprocal Tariffs, Targets China and EU

President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs aimed at addressing what he calls unfair trade practices by foreign nations. Starting April 5, a baseline 10% reciprocal tariff will be imposed on all imported goods...

French Judge Faces Threats After Barring Marine Le Pen from 2027 Presidential Race

French judge Benedicte de Perthuis is under police protection after barring far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running in Frances 2027 presidential election. De Perthuis, who led the three-judge panel that found Le Pen...

Science

AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi Gets US Approval for Bladder Cancer Treatment

AstraZenecas drug Imfinzi (NASDAQ: AZN) has received U.S. approval to treat adult patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, a significant advancement in cancer therapy. The approval allows Imfinzi to be used in...

Sanofi’s New Hemophilia Drug Qfitlia Gains FDA Approval with Breakthrough Bimonthly Dosing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Qfitlia, a groundbreaking hemophilia treatment by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY). Designed for patients aged 12 and older with hemophilia A or B,...

FDA Vaccine Chief Peter Marks Resigns Amid Controversy Over Transparency

Peter Marks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) top vaccine official, has resigned after reportedly being forced out by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to The Wall Street Journal....

What are the chances an asteroid will impact Earth in 2032?

For a few days in mid-February, headlines around the world buzzed about the potential for an asteroid to hit the Earth in 2032 specifically, asteroid 2024 YR4. The chance of this impact rose to a high of 3.1 per cent on...

A new study reveals the structure of violent winds 1,300 light years away

The planet WASP-121b is extreme. Its a gas giant almost twice as big as Jupiter orbiting extremely close to its star50 times closer than the Earth does around the Sun. WASP-121b is so close to its star that tidal forces...

Technology

Nintendo Switch 2 Launches June 5 at $449.99 with Major Upgrades

Nintendo (NYSE:SWCH) has officially announced the launch of its next-generation gaming console, the Switch 2, set for release on June 5. Priced at $449.99 in the U.S., the highly anticipated device features significant...

ReliaQuest Secures $500M to Boost AI Cybersecurity, Hits $3.4B Valuation

ReliaQuest, a leading AI-powered cybersecurity company, has raised over $500 million in a new funding round led by EQT, KKR, and FTV Capital, pushing its valuation to $3.4 billion. Other backers in this round include Ten...

GlobalFoundries and UMC Explore Merger Amid U.S. Chip Strategy Shift

United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), a major Taiwanese semiconductor foundry, and U.S.-based GlobalFoundries (NASDAQ: GFS) are reportedly in early talks about a potential merger, according to sources cited by Reuters. If...

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan Outlines Bold Turnaround Strategy at IntelVision 2025

At the IntelVision 2025 conference, new Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) CEO Lip-Bu Tan unveiled a transformative vision to revitalize the tech giant. Since taking the helm on March 12, Tan has prioritized customer engagement and...

OpenAI Secures $40B from SoftBank, Reaches $300B Valuation Amid AI Boom

OpenAI announced Monday it has raised $40 billion in a funding round led by Japans SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984), pushing the AI firms valuation to a staggering $300 billion. This marks a major leap from its $157 billion...