Dr Li Kheng Chai
Honorary Research Fellow
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
Researcher biography
Dr Chai is a Dietitian, Research Fellow at Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Honorary Fellow at University of Queensland, and Social Media Editor (Honorary) of European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Dr Chai completed her PhD in Nutrition & Dietetics at the University of Newcastle and has experience in undergraduate teaching and supervision, health promotion, implementation science and health service research related to children’s health and obesity prevention and intervention.
Through her PhD, Dr Chai has explored the use of telehealth and text messaging in addressing child nutrition and weight management intervention. By collaborating with academics and clinicians, her research developed a scalable approach to the issue of obesity, with the potential to enhance cost-effectiveness and reach of services, enabling more equitable access to public health systems. Her current research focuses on obesity prevention through system changes associated with nutrition and physical activity, and using technology to develop, deliver and evaluate health promotion programs to improve population health through prevention of obesity and chronic diseases.
Growing up in a multicultural country, Malaysia, Dr Chai is fluent in 5 languages which adds to her strengths in fostering international research collaborations, which also leads to her role as a member of an international systematic review working group (DiET-CO Consortium) consists of international experts from Australia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, and Hong Kong.
Book Chapter
Chai, Li Kheng, Hollis, Jenna, Collins, Clare and Demaio, Alessandro (2022). The double burden of malnutrition. Clinical Obesity in Adults and Children, 4th Edition. (pp. 386-393) wiley. doi: 10.1002/9781119695257.ch29
Journal Articles
Chai, Li Kheng, Farletti, Rebecca, Fathi, Leila and Littlewood, Robyn (2022). A rapid review of the impact of family-based digital interventions for obesity prevention and treatment on obesity-related outcomes in primary school-aged children. Nutrients, 14 (22) 4837, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/nu14224837
Wolfenden, Luke, Hawe, Penelope, Rychetnik, Lucie, Sutherland, Rachel, Barnes, Courtney, Yoong, Serene, Giles-Corti, Billie, Mitchell, Jo, Bauman, Adrian, Milat, Andrew J., Chai, Li Kheng, Mayfield, Sara, Mastersson, Nadia, Freebairn, Louise, Sacks, Gary, Wilson, Andrew, Wright, Annemarie and Wiggers, John (2022). A call to action: More collaborative implementation research is needed to prevent chronic disease. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 46 (5), 549-553. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13270
Trost, Stewart G., Byrne, Rebecca, Williams, Kate E., Johnson, Brittany J., Bird, Anna, Simon, Kate, Chai, Li Kheng, Terranova, Caroline O., Christian, Hayley E. and Golley, Rebecca K. (2021). Study protocol for Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup: a multi-site cluster randomized controlled trial of an intervention to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours in young children attending community playgroups. BMC Public Health, 21 (1) 1757. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11789-3
Azevedo, Liane B., Stephenson, John, Ells, Louisa, Adu‐Ntiamoah, Shirley, DeSmet, Ann, Giles, Emma L., Haste, Anna, O'Malley, Claire, Jones, Daniel, Chai, Li Kheng, Burrows, Tracy, Collins, Clare E., Grieken, Amy and Hudson, Michelle (2021). The effectiveness of e‐health interventions for the treatment of overweight or obesity in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Obesity Reviews, 23 (2) e13373, e13373. doi: 10.1111/obr.13373
Yoong, Sze Lin, Hall, Alix, Leonard, Alecia, McCrabb, Sam, Wiggers, John, Tursan d'Espaignet, Edouard, Stockings, Emily, Gouda, Hebe, Fayokun, Ranti, Commar, Alison, Prasad, Vinayak M, Paul, Christine, Oldmeadow, Christopher, Chai, Li Kheng, Thompson, Bruce and Wolfenden, Luke (2021). Prevalence of electronic nicotine delivery systems and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Public Health, 6 (9), e661-e673. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00106-7
Duncanson, K., Shrewsbury, V., Burrows, T., Chai, L. K., Ashton, L., Taylor, R., Gow, M., Ho, M., Ells, L., Stewart, L., Garnett, S., Jensen, M. E., Nowicka, P., Littlewood, R., Demaio, A., Coyle, D. H., Walker, J. L. and Collins, C. E. (2021). Impact of weight management nutrition interventions on dietary outcomes in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity: a systematic review with meta‐analysis. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 34 (1), 147-177. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12831
Chai, Li Kheng, Collins, Clare E., May, Chris, Brown, Leanne J., Ashman, Amy and Burrows, Tracy L. (2021). Fidelity and acceptability of a family-focused technology-based telehealth nutrition intervention for child weight management. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 27 (2), 98-109. doi: 10.1177/1357633X19864819
Lobstein, Tim, Neveux, Margot, Brown, Tamara, Chai, Li Kheng, Collins, Clare E., Ells, Louisa J. and Nowicka, Paulina (2021). Social disparities in obesity treatment for children age 3–10 years: a systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 22 (2) e13153. doi: 10.1111/obr.13153
Yang, Yive, Chai, Li Kheng, Collins, Rebecca, Leary, Mark, Whatnall, Megan and Burrows, Tracy (2020). Process evaluation of a personality targeted intervention for addictive eating in Australian adults. Behavioral Sciences, 10 (12) 186, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/bs10120186
Hollis, Jenna L., Collins, Clare E., DeClerck, Fabrice, Chai, Li Kheng, McColl, Karen and Demaio, Alessandro R. (2020). Defining healthy and sustainable diets for infants, children and adolescents. Global Food Security, 27 100401, 1-47. doi: 10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100401
Yoong, Sze Lin, Lum, Melanie, Jones, Jannah, Kerr, Erin, Falkiner, Maryann, Delaney, Tessa, McCrabb, Sam, Chai, Li Kheng, Seward, Kirsty and Grady, Alice (2020). A systematic review of interventions to improve the dietary intake, physical activity and weight status of children attending family day care services. Public Health Nutrition, 23 (12), 2211-2220. doi: 10.1017/S1368980019005275
Chai, Li Kheng, Rice-McNeil, Kelly and Trost, Stewart G. (2020). Patterns and correlates of sedentary behavior in children attending family child care. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (2) 549, 1-10. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17020549
Chai, Li Kheng, Yoong, Sze Lin, Bucher, Tamara, Collins, Clare E. and Shrewsbury, Vanessa A. (2019). Children’s Intake of food from non-fast-food outlets and child-specific menus: a survey of parents. Children, 6 (11) 123, 1-9. doi: 10.3390/children6110123
Chai, Li K., May, Chris, Collins, Clare E. and Burrows, Tracy L. (2019). Development of text messages targeting healthy eating for children in the context of parenting partnerships. Nutrition and Dietetics, 76 (5), 515-520. doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.12498
Chai, Li Kheng, Collins, Clare E., May, Chris, Holder, Carl and Burrows, Tracy L. (2019). Accuracy of parent-reported child height and weight and calculated body mass index compared with objectively measured anthropometrics: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21 (9) e12532, 1-12. doi: 10.2196/12532
Chai, Li Kheng, Collins, Clare, May, Chris, Brain, Katherine, Wong See, Denise and Burrows, Tracy (2019). Effectiveness of family-based weight management interventions for children with overweight and obesity: an umbrella review. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 17 (7), 1341-1427. doi: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003695
Brain, K., Burrows, T. L., Rollo, M. E., Chai, L. K., Clarke, E. D., Hayes, C., Hodson, F. J. and Collins, C. E. (2019). A systematic review and meta-analysis of nutrition interventions for chronic noncancer pain. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 32 (2), 198-225. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12601
Wolfenden, Luke, Chai, Li Kheng, Jones, Jannah, McFadyen, Tameka, Hodder, Rebecca, Kingsland, Melanie, Milat, Andrew J., Nathan, Nicole, Wiggers, John and Yoong, Sze Lin (2019). What happens once a program has been implemented? A call for research investigating strategies to enhance public health program sustainability. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43 (1), 3-4. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12867
Chai, Li Kheng, Collins, Clare E., May, Chris, Ashman, Amy, Holder, Carl, Brown, Leanne J. and Burrows, Tracy L. (2019). Feasibility and efficacy of a web-based family telehealth nutrition intervention to improve child weight status and dietary intake: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 27 (3), 1-13. doi: 10.1177/1357633X19865855
Shrewsbury, Vanessa A., Burrows, Tracy, Ho, Mandy, Jensen, Megan, Garnett, Sarah P., Stewart, Laura, Gow, Megan L., Ells, Louisa J., Chai, Li Kheng, Ashton, Lee, Walker, Jacqueline L., Littlewood, Robyn, Coyle, Daisy, Nowicka, Paulina, Ashman, Amy, Demaio, Alessandro, Duncanson, Kerith and Collins, Clare (2018). Update of the best practice dietetic management of overweight and obese children and adolescents: a systematic review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 16 (7), 1495-1502. doi: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003603
Yoong, Sze Lin, Stockings, Emily, Chai, Li Kheng, Tzelepis, Flora, Wiggers, John, Oldmeadow, Christopher, Paul, Christine, Peruga, Armando, Kingsland, Melanie, Attia, John and Wolfenden, Luke (2018). Prevalence of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use among youth globally: a systematic review and meta-analysis of country level data. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 42 (3), 303-308. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12777
McFadyen, Tameka, Chai, Li Kheng, Wyse, Rebecca, Kingsland, Melanie, Yoong, Sze Lin, Clinton-McHarg, Tara, Bauman, Adrian, Wiggers, John, Rissel, Chris, Williams, Christopher Michael and Wolfenden, Luke (2018). Strategies to improve the implementation of policies, practices or programmes in sporting organisations targeting poor diet, physical inactivity, obesity, risky alcohol use or tobacco use: A systematic review. BMJ Open, 8 (9) e019151, 1-14. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019151
May, Chris, Chai, Li Kheng and Burrows, Tracy (2017). Parent, partner, co-parent or partnership? The need for clarity as family systems thinking takes hold in the quest to motivate behavioural change. Children, 4 (4) 29. doi: 10.3390/children4040029
Wolfenden, Luke, Milat, Andrew J., Lecathelinais, Christophe, Skelton, Eliza, Clinton-McHarg, Tara, Williams, Christopher, Wiggers, John, Chai, Li Kheng and Yoong, Sze Lin (2016). A bibliographic review of public health dissemination and implementation research output and citation rates. Preventive Medicine Reports, 4, 441-443. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.08.006
Nathan, Nicole, Yoong, Sze Lin, Sutherland, Rachel, Reilly, Kathryn, Delaney, Tessa, Janssen, Lisa, Robertson, Katie, Reynolds, Renee, Chai, Li Kheng, Lecathelinais, Christophe, Wiggers, John and Wolfenden, Luke (2016). Effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention to enhance implementation of a healthy canteen policy in Australian primary schools: A randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 13 (1) 106, 1-9. doi: 10.1186/s12966-016-0431-5
Chai, Li K., Macdonald-Wicks, Lesley, Hure, Alexis J., Burrows, Tracy L., Blumfield, Michelle L., Smith, Roger and Collins, Clare E. (2016). Disparities exist between the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and the dietary intakes of young children aged two to three years. Nutrition and Dietetics, 73 (4), 312-320. doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.12203
Chai, Li Kheng, Burrows, Tracy, May, Chris, Brain, Katherine, Wong See, Denise and Collins, Clare (2016). Effectiveness of family-based weight management interventions in childhood obesity: an umbrella review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 14 (9), 32-39. doi: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2016-003082
Yoong, Sze Lin, Chai, Li Kheng, Williams, Christopher M., Wiggers, John, Finch, Meghan and Wolfenden, Luke (2016). Systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions targeting sleep and their impact on child body mass index, diet, and physical activity. Obesity, 24 (5), 1140-1147. doi: 10.1002/oby.21459
Burrows, Tracy, Hutchesson, Melinda, Chai, Li Kheng, Rollo, Megan, Skinner, Geoff and Collins, Clare (2015). Nutrition interventions for prevention and management of childhood obesity: What do parents want from an ehealth program?. Nutrients, 7 (12), 10469-10479. doi: 10.3390/nu7125546
Conference Paper
Chai, Li Kheng, Robinson, Mark, Armstrong, Dru, Abernethy, Peter, Cleary, Anne, Salom, Caroline and McDaid, Lisa (2021). Developing a monitoring and evaluation framework for a preventive health agency in Queensland: a systems-based approach. Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Conference , Brisbane, QLD Australia, 20 - 22 July 2021.
Research Report
Cleary, Anne, Dick, Mathew, Chai, Li Kheng, Morrison, Charlotte, Katherine Cacavas, McCormick, Jenna, Gordon, Olivia, Inch, Hannah Zebedee, Robinson, Mark and McDaid, Lisa (2021). Health and Wellbeing Queensland Pick of the Crop Evaluation Plan. Indooroopilly, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.