Beyond weight: understanding body composition changes and its role in brain injury rehabilitation

About the Project

Researcher name: Soraya Cunningham, Senior Dietitian, PAH, Metro South Health

People/organisations involved:

Dr Hannah Mayr, Principal Research Fellow, Nutrition and Dietetics, PAH

Dr Amy Nevin, Senior Dietitian, PAH

Dr Angela Vivanti, Dietetics Team Leader, PAH

Joanne Dela Pena, Jasmine Unit Occupational Therapist, PAH

Linelle Kelly, Jasmine Unit Physiotherapist, PAH

Catherine Thomson, Jasmine Unit Physiotherapist, PAH

Dr Ryan Bell, Director of Rehabilitation, PAH

Valerie Pick, Jasmine Unit NUM, PAH

Lara Campbell, Jasmine Unit, Neuropsychologist, PAH

Anna Williams, Jasmine Unit Speech Pathologist, PAH

Prof Tim Geraghty, Director, The Hopkins Centre

Samantha Borg, Senior RA, The Hopkins Centre and PhD candidate, QUT

This project investigates body composition changes during inpatient brain injury rehabilitation and their implications for nutrition, rehabilitation outcomes, and consumer experience. While weight gain is common following brain injury, weight alone does not distinguish between changes in fat and muscle mass. Using routinely collected bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) data from the Jasmine Unit, this study examines how body composition changes across rehabilitation, how these changes relate to functional outcomes, and how body composition information is best communicated and used by clinicians, consumers, and carers.

Aim and objective:

The project aims to improve understanding and use of body composition data in brain injury rehabilitation. Objectives are to:

Characterise body composition changes during extended inpatient rehabilitation,
examine associations between body composition changes and clinical and functional outcomes,
explore consumer, carer, and clinician perspectives on body composition monitoring and communication, and
build research capacity within the Jasmine Unit and broader dietetics workforce.

Expected outcomes and impact:

The project will generate evidence to inform nutrition and rehabilitation practice beyond weight-based approaches, including a protocol for measuring and reporting body composition in rehabilitation settings. Outcomes include recommendations for clinical and foodservice practice, consumer- and clinician-facing education resources, and strategies to reduce weight stigma through improved communication. Findings will support improved functional outcomes, reduced chronic disease risk, enhanced consumer autonomy, and future multi-site brain injury research collaborations.

Project status and timeframe

This is a 17-month fellowship project commencing in 2026. Activities include stakeholder consultation, ethics and governance, retrospective data analysis, qualitative interviews, resource and protocol development, dissemination of findings, and ongoing research capacity building within the Jasmine Unit and Princess Alexandra Hospital.