Biography
Associate Professor Gary Sacks is an ARC DECRA Fellow in the Global Obesity Centre at Deakin University. Gary’s research focuses on policies for the prevention of obesity and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Gary was awarded an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) (2016-2018) to conduct research into improving food policy in Australia. His research has been included as part of The Lancet Series on Obesity in 2015 and 2011, and the ACE-Prevention study, which examined the cost-effectiveness of over 100 interventions for disease prevention in Australia. Gary has also co-authored several reports for the World Health Organization. Gary co-founded INFORMAS (International Network for Food and Obesity/NCDs Research, Monitoring and Action Support), a global network of public-interest non-government organisations and researchers that aims to monitor, evaluate and support public and private sector actions to improve food environments and reduce obesity and NCDs. In 2017, Gary led the development of a Food Policy Index for Australia, that assessed Australian governments on their obesity prevention policies.
Gary completed his PhD in Public Health at Deakin University in 2011. His PhD thesis investigated policies for obesity prevention, with a particular focus on the cost-effectiveness of policies for improving the food supply.
Gary has undertaken short-term research placements at the World Health Organization (Switzerland), Harvard University (USA), the University of Oxford (UK), the Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services (Australia) and the International Telecommunications Union (Switzerland). Prior to entering the field of public health, Gary worked as a management consultant, providing strategic business advice to multi-national corporations and governments in Australia. Gary has tertiary qualifications in economics, information systems and health informatics.
Profile on The Conversation
Twitter
Research interests
Policies for obesity prevention
Corporate political activity of the food industry
Food taxes
Front-of-pack food labelling
Economic modelling
Knowledge areas
Obesity prevention
Food policy
Food taxes
Food labelling
Publications
No publications found
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Food policies for population health: evidence, influence and accountability
A/Prof Gary Sacks
ARC DECRA - Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
- 2018: $48,958
- 2017: $121,045
- 2016: $114,660
A multi-component supermarket intervention to promote healthy eating
Dr Adrian Cameron, A/Prof Gary Sacks, A/Prof Cliona Ni Mhurchu, Prof Boyd Swinburn, Prof Marj Moodie, Prof Fabrice Etile, A/Prof Liliana Orellana
NHMRC - Partnership Project
- 2018: $82,461
- 2017: $148,514
Trends in discretionary food and drink sales in Australia, 2014-2017
Prof Anna Peeters, Dr Kathryn Backholer, Dr Adrian Cameron, A/Prof Gary Sacks
NHF Vanguard Grant - National Heart Foundation of Australia
- 2017: $75,000
Reducing salt intake using food policy interventions
Prof Bruce Neal, Prof Caryl Nowson, Prof Boyd Swinburn, Prof Mark Woodward, A/Prof Cliona Ni Mhurchu, Prof Stephen Simpson, Prof Marj Moodie, Dr Jacqui Webster, A/Prof Gary Sacks, Dr Jason Wu
NHMRC - Centres of Research Excellence
- 2018: $80,498
- 2017: $44,721
Other Public Sector Funding
Creating supermarket food environments that encourage healthy eating
Dr Adrian Cameron, A/Prof Gary Sacks
- 2017: $20,000
- 2016: $90,000
- 2015: $90,000
A multi-component supermarket intervention to promote healthy eating
Dr Adrian Cameron, A/Prof Gary Sacks, A/Prof Cliona Ni Mhurchu, Prof Boyd Swinburn, Prof Marj Moodie, Prof Fabrice Etile, A/Prof Liliana Orellana
- 2017: $50,000
Industry and Other Funding
Trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australian children and adolescents
Prof Marj Moodie, Prof Boyd Swinburn, Ms Catherine Keating, A/Prof Gary Sacks
- 2011: $18,639
Childhood Obesity Interventions - Evaluating the Cost-effectiveness of Strategies
Steven Gortmaker, Prof Marj Moodie, Prof Boyd Swinburn, Prof Rob Carter, A/Prof Gary Sacks
- 2015: $12,649
- 2013: $41,729
- 2012: $42,746
P1.17 Benchmarking obesity prevention policies of Australian governments
Prof Andrew Wilson, A/Prof Gary Sacks
- 2016: $44,300
- 2015: $80,000
Supervisions
Melissa Amina Madeleine Cavallo Mialon
Thesis entitled: Monitoring the corporate political activity of the food industry
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (High Cost), School of Health & Social Development
Sirinya Phulkerd
Thesis entitled: Analysis of Policy Implementation for Healthier Food Environments in Thailand
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Maryam Delavari
Thesis entitled: The effect of acculturation & changing environment on obesity and its determinants among Iranian migrants in Victoria
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health & Social Development