Profile image of Susan Torres

A/Prof. Susan Torres

STAFF PROFILE

Position

Associate Professor

Faculty

Faculty of Health

Department

School of Exer & Nutr Sciences

Campus

Melbourne Burwood Campus

Qualifications

Graduate Certificate of Higher Education, Deakin University, 2011
Doctor of Philosophy, Deakin University, 2008
Master of Nutrition & Dietetics, Deakin University, 1996
Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Melbourne, 1994

Contact

susan.torres@deakin.edu.au
+61 3 924 46189

Research interests

Dr Torres’ research assesses the relationship between mental health and dietary intake. She has conducted intervention studies assessing the impact of dietary modifications and weight loss on mood, anxiety and blood pressure responses to stress. Recently, Dr Torres has been investigating the effect of weight loss on stress, and how dietary intake is associated with depression.  Her future research will address how lifestyle interventions such as diet and weight loss can influence mental health.  Dr Torres is also an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Registered Nutritionist.

Affiliations

Nutrition Society of Australia

Dietitian's Association of Australia

Teaching interests

Nutrition research methodology and Nutrition during infancy, childhood and adolescence.

Knowledge areas

Nutrition, dietary intake, mental health

Conferences

2017

Annual Meeting of the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology
Oral presentation: SU Jayasinghe, SJ Torres, M Hussain, S Fraser, G Lambert, AI Turner.  Fitter women do not have attenuated hemodynamic responses to psychological stress

Annual Meeting of the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology
Poster presentation: AI Turner, C Grimes, CA Nowson, SU Jayasinghe, C Bruce, S Mason, F He, SJ Torres.  Sodium intake was positively associated with cortisol excretion in a cross-sectional sample of Australian school children

International Conference of Research in Physical Activity and Health, Spain
Esteban-Gonzalo L, Turner AI, Torres SJ, Esteban-Cornejo I, Verónica Cabanas V, Veiga OL. Quality of mediterranean diet and health related quality of life in spanish adolescents. the Up & Down study

2016

Nutrition Society of Australia National Conference
Poster presentation: M Hart, C Milte, S Torres, M Thorpe, S McNaughton. Associations between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms in older adults

2015

Endocrine’s Society’s Annual Meeting 2015
Poster presentation: SU Jayasinghe, SJ Torres, AJ Tilbrook, AI Turner.  Sympatho-Adrenal Medullary (SAM) System and Hypothalamo-Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis Responses to Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) Is Independent of Physical Fitness in Women Aged 30-50 Years

International Society for Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity Assessment Conference
Poster presentation:  RL Huddy, SJ Torres; CM Milte; SA McNaughton; M Techyenne; KJ Campbell. Associations between dietary intake, diet quality and depressive symptoms in first-time mothers

45th Annual ISPNE Conference
Poster presentation: SU Jayasinghe, SJ Torres, AJ Tilbrook, AI Turner.  Cortisol and catecholamine responses to Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) are independent of Physical Fitness in Women Aged 30-50 Years

2014

Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society 2014 Annual Scientific Meeting
Oral presentation: Anne I Turner, Susan J Torres, Caryl A Nowson, Alan J Tilbrook, Sisitha U Jayasinghe. Cortisol response to food intake in men: Influence of overweight and obesity
2013 Endocrine Society National Conference
Poster presentation:  AI Turner, SJ Torres, E Townsin, CA Nowson, AJ Tilbrook, SU Jayasinghe.  Overweight and obesity influence cortisol response to food ingestion in men. 

Endocrine Society National Conference
Poster presentation:  SU Jayasinghe, SJ Torres, E Townsin, CA Nowson, AJ Tilbrook, AI Turner.  Physiological responses to psychological stress; importance of adiposity in men.

Australian Physiological Society
Oral presentation: SU Jayasinghe, SJ Torres, SF Fraser, AI Turner
Reactivity to psychological stress in premenopausal women: Impact of cardiorespiratory fitness and cardio-metabolic risk

Nutrition Society of Australia National Conference
Poster presentation:  TE Lunn, CA Nowson, A Worsley SJ Torres, E Townsin, CA Nowson, AJ Tilbrook, AI Turner.  The relationship between personality and dietary intake in overweight and obese men.

2012

Endocrine Society of Australia National Conference
Oral presentation:  SU Jayasinghe, SJ Torres, E Townsin, CA Nowson, AJ Tilbrook, AI Turner.  Salivary alpha amylase (sAA) response to psychological stress in lean and overweight/obese men

Professional activities

Member of the following Deakin University committee's

Graduate Employment Committee- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences (Chair)

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Nutrition Course team

Research groups

Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition

Awards

2016 Deakin University Award for Teaching Excellence
2011 Faculty Award for Excellence
Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural Sciences, Deakin University
Development of School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences careers website

2002-2007 Dairy Research Development Corporation PhD scholarship

2007 Nutrition Society of Australia Travel Grant

2006 Nutrition Society of Australia Travel Grant

2002 Nutrition Society of Australia Travel Grant

1993 Awarded HECS exemption scholarship for academic excellence

Publications

Filter by

2024

Attitudes and Considerations for Multidomain Lifestyle Approaches to Dementia Prevention: A Qualitative Study

Sara Dingle, Catherine Milte, Robin Daly, Susan Torres

(2024), Vol. 97, pp. 939-949, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Netherlands, C1

journal article

Is high salt intake inducing obesity via production of cortisol? A novel working hypothesis and pilot study

Anthony Nowell, Susan Torres, Sarah Hall, Michelle Keske, David Torpy, Lewan Parker, Andrew Betik, Anne Turner

(2024), European Journal of Nutrition, Berlin, Germany, C1

journal article
2023

Prospective associations between diet quality and health-related quality of life in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study

L Ng, M Hart, S Dingle, C Milte, K Livingstone, J Shaw, D Magliano, S McNaughton, S Torres

(2023), Vol. 130, pp. 83-92, British Journal of Nutrition, England, C1

journal article

The role of combined modifiable lifestyle behaviors in the longitudinal association between stressful life events and allostatic load in Australian adults

R Siew, S Bowe, A Turner, Z Sarnyai, C Nilsson, J Shaw, D Magliano, S Torres

(2023), Vol. 149, pp. 106021-106021, Psychoneuroendocrinology, England, C1

journal article

Statistical Approaches for the Analysis of Combined Health-Related Factors in Association with Adult Cognitive Outcomes: A Scoping Review

S Dingle, M Bujtor, C Milte, S Bowe, R Daly, S Torres

(2023), Vol. 92, pp. 1147-1171, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, C1

journal article

The feasibility of a multidomain dementia risk reduction randomised controlled trial for people experiencing cognitive decline: the Body, Brain, Life for Cognitive Decline (BBL-CD)

M McMaster, S Kim, L Clare, S Torres, N Cherbuin, K Anstey

(2023), Vol. 27, pp. 2111-2119, Aging & Mental Health, London, Eng., C1-1

journal article

Data-driven lifestyle patterns and risk of dementia in older Australian women

S Dingle, S Bowe, M Bujtor, C Milte, R Daly, J Byles, D Cavenagh, S Torres

(2023), Alzheimer's and Dementia, United States, C1

journal article
2022

Nineteen-Year Associations between Three Diet Quality Indices and All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: The Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study

K Livingstone, C Milte, S Torres, M Hart, S DIngle, J Shaw, D Magliano, S McNaughton

(2022), Vol. 152, pp. 805-815, Journal of Nutrition, Oxford, Eng., C1

journal article

Stress system dysfunction revealed by integrating reactivity of stress pathways to psychological stress in lean and overweight/obese men

S Jayasinghe, S Hall, S Torres, A Turner

(2022), Vol. 322, pp. R144-R151, American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology, Rockville, Md., C1

journal article

The role of combined modifiable lifestyle behaviors in the association between exposure to stressors and allostatic load: A systematic review of observational studies.

R Siew, K Nabe-Nielsen, A Turner, M Bujtor, S Torres

(2022), Vol. 138, pp. 1-9, Psychoneuroendocrinology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1

journal article

Association between dietary protein intake and changes in health-related quality of life in older adults: findings from the AusDiab 12-year prospective study

Annabel Matison, Catherine Milte, Jonathan Shaw, Dianna Magliano, Robin Daly, Susan Torres

(2022), Vol. 22, pp. 1-11, BMC Geriatrics, Berlin, Germany, C1

journal article

Associations between data-driven lifestyle profiles and cognitive function in the AusDiab study

S Dingle, S Bowe, M Bujtor, C Milte, R Daly, K Anstey, J Shaw, S Torres

(2022), Vol. 22, BMC Public Health, C1

journal article
2021

Associations of dietary intake on biological markers of inflammation in children and adolescents: A systematic review

M Bujtor, A Turner, S Torres, L Esteban-Gonzalo, C Pariante, A Borsini

(2021), Vol. 13, pp. 1-29, Nutrients, Switzerland, C1

journal article

Dietary patterns and associations with biomarkers of inflammation in adults: a systematic review of observational studies

M Hart, S Torres, S McNaughton, C Milte

(2021), Vol. 20, Nutrition Journal, England, C1

journal article

A Dietary Inflammatory Index and associations with C-reactive protein in a general adult population

M Hart, S Torres, S McNaughton, C Milte

(2021), Vol. 60, pp. 4093-4106, European Journal of Nutrition, Germany, C1

journal article

The impact of maternal post-partum depressive symptoms on child diet at 18 months

R Opie, M Zheng, S Torres, K Campbell

(2021), Vol. 17, Maternal and Child Nutrition, England, C1

journal article
2020

Effects of a multicomponent exercise program combined with calcium-vitamin D3-enriched milk on health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms in older men: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

J Matthews, S Torres, C Milte, I Hopkins, S Kukuljan, C Nowson, R Daly

(2020), Vol. 59, pp. 1081-1091, European Journal of Nutrition, Germany, C1

journal article

Psychological stress reactivity and future health and disease outcomes: A systematic review of prospective evidence

A Turner, N Smyth, S Hall, S Torres, M Hussein, S Jayasinghe, K Ball, A Clow

(2020), Vol. 114, Psychoneuroendocrinology, England, C1

journal article

Fruit and vegetable consumption and psychological distress in Australian pregnant and breastfeeding women

A Phillips, C Milte, R Opie, K Campbell, S Torres

(2020), Vol. 29, pp. 348-354, Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, London, Eng., C1

journal article

Lifestyle risk factors and cognitive outcomes from the multidomain dementia risk reduction randomized controlled trial, Body Brain Life for Cognitive Decline (BBL-CD)

M McMaster, S Kim, L Clare, S Torres, N Cherbuin, C DʼEste, K Anstey

(2020), Vol. 68, pp. 2629-2637, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Chichester, Eng., C1

journal article

An internet-based intervention augmented with a diet and physical activity consultation to decrease the risk of dementia in at-risk adults in a primary care setting: Pragmatic randomized controlled trial

K Anstey, N Cherbuin, S Kim, M McMaster, C D'Este, N Lautenschlager, G Rebok, I McRae, S Torres, K Cox, C Pond

(2020), Vol. 22, Journal of Medical Internet Research, Canada, C1

journal article
2019

Diet quality and well-being in children and adolescents: The UP&DOWN longitudinal study

L Esteban-Gonzalo, A Turner, S Torres, I Esteban-Cornejo, J Castro-Piñero, Á Delgado-Alfonso, A Marcos, S Gómez-Martínez, Ó Veiga

(2019), Vol. 121, pp. 221-231, British Journal of Nutrition, England, C1

journal article

Urinary sodium is positively associated with urinary free cortisol and total cortisol metabolites in a cross-sectional sample of Australian schoolchildren aged 5-12 years and their mothers

S Torres, C Grimes, C Nowson, S Jayasinghe, C Bruce, S Mason, F He, A Turner

(2019), Vol. 121, pp. 164-171, British Journal of Nutrition, England, C1

journal article

Development of nutrition science competencies for undergraduate degrees in Australia

T Lawlis, S Torres, A Coates, K Clark, K Charlton, A Sinclair, L Wood, A Devine

(2019), Vol. 28, pp. 166-176, Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, C1

journal article

Dietary patterns are associated with depressive symptoms in older Australian women but not men

M Hart, C Milte, S Torres, M Thorpe, S Mcnaughton

(2019), Vol. 122, pp. 1424-1431, British Journal of Nutrition, England, C1

journal article
2018

Protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial of Body Brain Life-General Practice and a Lifestyle Modification Programme to decrease dementia risk exposure in a primary care setting

S Kim, M McMaster, S Torres, K Cox, N Lautenschlager, G Rebok, D Pond, C D'Este, I McRae, N Cherbuin, K Anstey

(2018), Vol. 8, BMJ Open, England, C1

journal article

Diet-induced weight loss has no effect on psychological stress in overweight and obese adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

A Booth, X Wang, A Turner, C Nowson, S Torres

(2018), Vol. 10, Nutrients, Switzerland, C1

journal article

Body, brain, life for cognitive decline (BBL-CD): Protocol for a multidomain dementia risk reduction randomized controlled trial for subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment

M McMaster, S Kim, L Clare, S Torres, C D’este, K Anstey

(2018), Vol. 13, pp. 2397-2406, Clinical Interventions in Aging, New Zealand, C1

journal article
2017

Fitter women did not have attenuated hemodynamic responses to psychological stress compared with age-matched women with lower levels of fitness

S Jayasinghe, S Torres, M Hussein, S Fraser, G Lambert, A Turner

(2017), Vol. 12, PLoS ONE, United States, C1

journal article

Effects of progressive resistance training combined with a protein-enriched lean red meat diet on health-related quality of life in elderly women: secondary analysis of a 4-month cluster randomised controlled trial

S Torres, S Robinson, L Orellana, S O'Connell, C Grimes, N Mundell, D Dunstan, C Nowson, R Daly

(2017), Vol. 117, pp. 1550-1559, British journal of nutrition, Cambridge, Eng., C1

journal article
2016

Hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis and sympatho-adrenal medullary system responses to psychological stress were not attenuated in women with elevated physical fitness levels

S Jayasinghe, G Lambert, S Torres, S Fraser, N Eikelis, A Turner

(2016), Vol. 51, pp. 369-379, Endocrine, United States, C1

journal article

Dietary fat restriction increases fat taste sensitivity in people with obesity

L Newman, D Bolhuis, S Torres, R Keast

(2016), Vol. 24, pp. 328-334, Obesity, United States, C1

journal article

Higher adherence to the Australian dietary guidelines is associated with better mental health status among Australian adult first-time mothers

R Huddy, S Torres, C Milte, S McNaughton, M Teychenne, K Campbell

(2016), Vol. 116, pp. 1406-1412, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1

journal article

The influence of a high-fat meal on fat taste thresholds

L Newman, S Torres, D Bolhuis, R Keast

(2016), Vol. 101, pp. 199-204, Appetite, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1

journal article
2015

Cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate responses to food intake were independent of physical fitness levels in women

S Jayasinghe, S Torres, S Fraser, A Turner

(2015), Vol. 40, pp. 1186-1192, Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism, Ottawa, On., C1

journal article
2014

Does diet-induced weight change effect anxiety in overweight and obese adults?

S Eyres, A Turner, C Nowson, S Torres

(2014), Vol. 30, pp. 10-15, Nutrition, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1

journal article

Mediators of the relationship between sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms amongst disadvantaged women

M Teychenne, S Torres, S McNaughton, J Salmon, K Ball

(2014), Vol. 7, pp. 30-36, Mental health and physical activity, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1

journal article

Does personality affect dietary intake?

T Lunn, C Nowson, A Worsley, S Torres

(2014), Vol. 30, pp. 403-409, Nutrition, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1

journal article

Physiological responses to psychological stress: importance of adiposity in men aged 50-70 years

S Jayasinghe, S Torres, C Nowson, A Tilbrook, A Turner

(2014), Vol. 3, pp. 110-119, Endocrine connections, Bristol, England, C1

journal article

Cortisol, alpha amylase, blood pressure and heart rate responses to food intake in men aged 50-70 years : importance of adiposity

Sisitha Jayasinghe, Susan Torres, Caryl Nowson, Alan Tilbrook, Anne Turner

(2014), Vol. 1, pp. 1-10, BMC obesity, London, England, C1

journal article

The effect of overweight/obesity on cardiovascular responses to acute psychological stress in men aged 50-70 years

S Torres, A Turner, S Jayasinghe, J Nolds, C Nowson

(2014), Vol. 7, pp. 339-350, Obesity Facts, Switzerland, C1

journal article
2013

The effect of physical activity on psychological distress, cortisol and obesity: results of the farming fit intervention program

S Brumby, A Chandrasekara, P Kremer, S Torres, S McCoombe, P Lewandowski

(2013), Vol. 13, pp. 1-15, BMC public health, London, England, C1

journal article
2012

A moderate-sodium DASH-type diet improves mood in postmenopausal women

S Torres, C Nowson

(2012), Vol. 28, pp. 896-900, Nutrition, New York, N.Y., C1

journal article

Dietary patterns are associated with cognition among older people with mild cognitive impairment

S Torres, N Lautenschlager, N Wattanapenpaiboon, K Greenop, C Beer, L Flicker, H Alfonso, C Nowson

(2012), Vol. 4, pp. 1542-1551, Nutrients, Basel, Switzerland, C1-1

journal article
2011

Reducing psychological distress and obesity in Australian farmers by promoting physical activity

S Brumby, A Chandrasekara, S McCoombe, S Torres, P Kremer, P Lewandowski

(2011), Vol. 11, pp. 1-7, BMC Public Health, London, England, C1

journal article
2010

Does stress induce salt intake?

S Torres, A Turner, C Nowson

(2010), Vol. 103, pp. 1562-1568, British journal of nutrition, Cambridge, England, C1

journal article

Depression, nutritional risk and eating behaviour in older caregivers

S Torres, M McCabe, C Nowson

(2010), Vol. 14, pp. 442-448, Journal of nutrition, health and aging, New York, N. Y., C1

journal article
2008

Dietary electrolytes are related to mood

S Torres, C Nowson, A Worsley

(2008), Vol. 100, pp. 1038-1045, British journal of nutrition : an international journal of nutritional science, Cambridge, England, C1

journal article
2007

Effect of a weight-loss program on mental stress-induced cardiovascular responses and recovery

S Torres, C Nowson

(2007), Vol. 23, pp. 521-528, Nutrition, London, England, C1

journal article

Relationship between stress, eating behavior and obesity

S Torres, C Nowson

(2007), Vol. 23, pp. 887-894, Nutrition, London, England, C1

journal article
2004

Blood pressure response to dietary modifications in free-living individuals 1,2

C Nowson, A Worsley, C Margerison, M Jorna, A Frame, S Torres, S Godfrey

(2004), Vol. 134, pp. 2322-2329, Journal of nutrition, Bethesda, MD, C1

journal article
2002

Direct patient contacts of dietetic students during their final clinical placement

S Torres, J Winter, H Matters, C Nowson

(2002), Vol. 59, pp. 18-22, Nutrition & dietetics, Deakin, A.C.T., C1

journal article

Funded Projects at Deakin

Australian Competitive Grants

Development of a Gold Standard Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial in Men Targeting Weight Loss and Fat Mass Loss

Prof Caryl Nowson, A/Prof Susan Torres, Dr Lisa Newman

DIA Grant - Research - Dairy Innovation Australia Limited

  • 2015: $12,250

Other Public Sector Funding

NHMRC evidence review iodine-RFx5845 iodine (internal NHMRC number 2020-21RFQ009).

Prof Judi Porter, A/Prof Susan Torres, Prof Sarah McNaughton, A/Prof Ewa Szymlek-Gay, Dr Katherine Livingstone, Dr Claire Margerison, Dr Miaobing Zheng, A/Prof Kristy Bolton

National Health and Medical Research Council

  • 2022: $67,165
  • 2021: $17,018

NHMRC evidence review sodium - RFx5844 sodium (internal NHMRC number: 2020-21RFQ008).

A/Prof Susan Torres, Prof Judi Porter, Prof Sarah McNaughton, A/Prof Ewa Szymlek-Gay, Dr Katherine Livingstone, Dr Claire Margerison, Dr Miaobing Zheng, A/Prof Kristy Bolton

National Health and Medical Research Council

  • 2024: $53,540
  • 2022: $79,140
  • 2021: $20,291

Supervisions

Principal Supervisor
2023

Sara Dingle

Thesis entitled: Combined Lifestyle Behaviours for Cognitive Function and Dementia Risk Reduction

Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (High Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences

Melissa Bujtor

Thesis entitled: Lifestyle behaviours and well-being in children and adolescents

Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences

Executive Supervisor
2024

Vooi Khong Siew

Thesis entitled: Stress, Lifestyle Behaviours and Allostatic Load

Doctor of Philosophy (Joint, Uni of Copenhagen), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences

Associate Supervisor
2022

Michael Hart

Thesis entitled: Diet, inflammation and cognitive function in mid-aged and older adults

Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences

2015

Sisitha Jayasinghe

Thesis entitled: Responsiveness to psychological stress and food intake: The influence of adiposity in men and physical activity in women

Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences

2014

Lisa Newman

Thesis entitled: Oral fatty acid sensitivity and dietary fat consumption

Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences