Meet our nutrition expert
Professor Elaine Rush (AUT University) has been involved in health and education for all her working career. Gaining both MSc and PhD from the University of Auckland she has research expertise in the measurement of body composition, energy expenditure, physical activity, nutrition and risk factors for disease. A particular interest in ethnic differences particularly among Maori, Pacific Island, European and Indian populations in New Zealand has led to over 40 peer reviewed publications. Elaine also serves on the councils of a number of nutrition and obesity organisations and is the New Zealand representative for IASO.
One of the tools she uses in her research is stable isotopes. This expertise has led to her involvement in the recent child nutrition survey in New Zealand and in cooperative research projects and training overseen by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Division of Human Health. Elaine supervises a number of masters and doctoral students in the areas of nutrition, body composition and energy expenditure throughout the lifecycle. Her research projects include a large diabetes prevention strategy, the health and growth of children whose mothers had gestational diabetes, and the longitudinal Pacific Island Family study, which is tracking over 1000 Pacific children from birth.
