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Professor Gina Trapp

Professor of Food and Nutrition Environments

Staff Member Details
Telephone: +61 8 6304 3175
Mobile: 0410 589 374
Email: g.trapp@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Joondalup  
Room: JO31.474  
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3683-0319

Gina Trapp is a Professor of Food and Nutrition Environments within the Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute at Edith Cowan University where she leads the Food Environments Team. She is also a Stan Perron People Fellow, an Honorary Research Fellow at the Telethon Kids Institute and a Registered Public Health Nutritionist recognised by the Nutrition Society of Australia. Gina was also a former ARC DECRA Fellow and NHMRC ECR Fellow at the University of Western Australia.

Bridging the disciplines of nutrition, public health, geography and urban planning, Gina’s program of research is helping to understand how the environments within which children live, play and go to school influence the types of foods they eat, their physical activity levels and weight status; providing the key evidence necessary to underpin public health and urban planning policy and practice changes to create healthy food and physical activity environments.

She currently leads ARC, NHMRC, Healthway and Cancer Council WA funded research projects focusing on understanding and measuring school, community, consumer and cultural food environments (including emerging food trends such as energy drink consumption in children) in collaboration with key stakeholders, health organisations, urban planners, local government and the community.

Background

At only 7 years post-PhD (relative to opportunity), Gina has 120+ publications (over half of which are published in the top 10% of journals in their field), has delivered 130+ conference/seminar presentations (43 as invited/keynote speaker) and has secured research funds totalling in excess of $13.2M. She has been the recipient of 41 research awards and prizes (selection shown below) and in recognition of her commitment and outstanding contribution to research, was recently awarded The University of Western Australia’s, ‘Vice Chancellor’s Award for Early Career Research Excellence’, the Telethon Kids Institute’s, ‘Illuminate Award', V.O.T.E. Annual Award for Excellence' and 'Early-Mid Career Research Contribution Award’, and the Australian Health Promotion Association’s, ‘Excellence in Health Promotion Practice’.

She was also formerly recognised by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science as ‘One of Western Australia’s Most Outstanding Young Scientists’, receiving the 2015, ‘Western Australian Young Tall Poppy Science Award’ which recognises intellectual and scientific excellence.

Awards and Recognition

  • 2023: ‘PhD Supervisor of the Year Award’, Nominee, Telethon Kids Institute
  • 2023: ‘Vice Chancellors Award for Research Excellence’, University of Western Australia
  • 2023: ‘Medical School Early Career Research Award’, University of Western Australia
  • 2022: ‘Top Cited Article of 2021-2022 Award’ Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Wiley Publishing
  • 2022: ‘Illuminate Award’, Recognising the best and brightest researchers, Telethon Kids Institute
  • 2020: ‘V.O.T.E. Annual award for Excellence’ Telethon Kids Institute Annual Award'
  • 2020: ‘Discovery Early Career Researcher Award’ Australian Research Council
  • 2019: ‘Hopscotch Collaboration Award’ Telethon Kids Institute
  • 2018: ‘Friends of the Institute Sabbatical Award’ Telethon Kids Institute
  • 2017: ‘2017 Early Career Research Excellence Award’ Faculty of Health and Medical Science, UWA
  • 2017: ‘Early-Mid Career Research Contribution Award’ Telethon Kids Institute, for contributions to the wider community and research field
  • 2017: ‘International Award for Urban Design Excellence’ for the RESIDE Project: Evaluation of the Liveable Neighbourhood Guidelines. Centre for Active Design, New York.* team award
  • 2017: ‘New Independent Researcher Infrastructure Support (NIRIS) Award’ WA Department of Health
  • 2016: ‘Science Pathways 2016: Future Leaders Travel Award’ The Australian Academy of Science
  • 2015: ‘Excellence in Health Promotion Practice’, Australian Health Promotion Association
  • 2015: ‘2015 Young Tall Poppy Science Award’, Chosen by the Australian Institute of Policy & Science & the Tall Poppy Campaign as, ‘One of Western Australia’s most outstanding scientists for achievements in the area of scientific research and communication’
  • 2015: ‘Bendat Family Foundation Children’s Research Scholarship’, Telethon Kids Institute
  • 2014: ‘Vice Chancellor’s Research Award for Early Career Investigators’, University of Western Australia
  • 2014: ‘2014 Ministers Award’,Planning Institute of Australia (WA) Awards for Planning Excellence: Healthy Active By Design.* team award
  • 2014: ‘2014 President’s Award’,Planning Institute of Australia (WA) Awards for Planning Excellence; Healthy Active By Design.* team award
  • 2014: ‘Award of Planning Excellence’ WA Parks and Leisure‘Use of Technology’ category.* team award
  • 2014: ‘Award of Planning Excellence’ WA Parks and Leisure‘Research’ category.* team award
  • 2013: ‘2013 Prize for Scientific Publication’, Best Scientific Publication by a TKI Early Career Researcher
  • 2013: ‘Best Oral Presentation’, Raine Medical Research Foundation’s Annual Scientific meeting
  • 2013: Friends of the Institute Travel Award, Telethon Kids Institute
  • 2013: ‘Best Planning Idea’ Planning Institute of Australia (WA) Awards Large Project Category: POS TOOL: Spatial analysis tool for public open space.* team award
  • 2012: Graduate Research School Travel Award, The University of Western Australia
  • 2012: School of Population Health Travel Award, The University of Western Australia
  • 2009: ‘Jan Watt Prize for Excellence in Public Health Field Research’, School of Population Health, UWA

Research Areas and Interests

  • Food environments
  • Impact of the built environment on health
  • Child and adolescent public health nutrition

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Western Australia, 2013.

Research Outputs

Journal Articles

  • Wells, G., Trapp, G., Wickens, N., Heritage, B. (2024). Powerful promotions: An investigation of the teen-directed marketing power of outdoor food advertisements located near schools in Australia. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 35(1), 144-153. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.724.
  • Gannett, A., Hooper, P., Saunders, J., Trapp, G. (2024). Investigating the walkability of primary, secondary and K-12 schools across metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. GeoJournal: an international journal on human geography and environmental sciences, 89(2), article number 53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-024-11058-x.
  • Henry, A., Fried, L., Nathan, A., Dhamrait, G., Boruff, B., Schipperijn, J., Cross, D., Beck, B., Trapp, G., Christian, H. (2024). The built environment and child obesity: A review of Australian policies. Obesity Reviews, 25(1), article number e13650. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13650.

Journal Articles

  • Parnell, S., Mandzufas, J., Howard, J., Gannett, A., Trapp, G. (2023). A massive hit that targets kids quite a bit: Where and how Australian school children see energy drinks. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 34(4), 736-741. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.747.
  • Bivoltsis, A., Christian, H., Ambrosini, G., Hooper, P., Pulker, C., Thornton, L., Trapp, G. (2023). The community food environment and its association with diet, health or weight status in Australia: A systematic review with recommendations for future research. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 34(2), 328-365. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.679.
  • Ayalde, J., Ta, D., Adesanya, O., Mandzufas, J., Lombardi, K., Trapp, G. (2023). Awake and Alert: Examining the Portrayal of Energy Drinks on TikTok. Journal of Adolescent Health, 72(4), 633-635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.10.025.
  • Trapp, G., Reid, N., Hickling, S., Bivoltsis, A., Mandzufas, J., Howard, J. (2023). Nutritional quality of children's menus in restaurants: does cuisine type matter?. Public Health Nutrition, 26(7), 1451-1455. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980023000344.
  • Mandzufas, J., Ayalde, J., Ta, D., Munro, E., Paciente, R., Pranoto, EP., King, K., How, K., Sincovich, A., Brushe, M., Wickens, N., Wells, G., Woolard, A., Edmunds, M., Thomas, H., Trapp, G., Lombardi, K. (2023). The Investigation of Health-Related Topics on TikTok: A Descriptive Study Protocol. Digital, 3(1), 97-108. https://doi.org/10.3390/digital3010007.
  • Pulker, C., Aberle, L., Butcher, L., Whitton, C., Law, K., Large, A., Pollard, C., Trapp, G. (2023). Development of the Menu Assessment Scoring Tool (MAST) to Assess the Nutritional Quality of Food Service Menus. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), article number 3998. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20053998.
  • Adams, E., Nathan, A., Trost, S., Schipperijn, J., Shilton, T., Trapp, G., Maitland, C., Thornton, A., McLaughlin, M., George, P., Wenden, E., Christian, H. (2023). Play Active physical activity policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: results from a pragmatic cluster randomised trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 20(1), article number 46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01442-0.

Journal Articles

  • Trapp, G., Hooper, P., Kennington, K., Satori, A., Billingham, W., Bivoltsis, A. (2022). Does fast-food outlet density differ by area-level disadvantage in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia?. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(S1), 262-265. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.597.
  • Trapp, G., Hooper, P., Thornton, L., Kennington, K., Sartori, A., Wickens, N., Mandzufas, J., Billingham, W. (2022). Children’s exposure to outdoor food advertising near primary and secondary schools in Australia. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(3), 642-648. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.532.
  • Trapp, G., Pulker, C., Hurworth, M., Law, KK., Brinkman, S., Pollard, CM., Harray, AJ., Sambell, R., Mandzufas, J., Anzman-Frasca, S., Hickling, S. (2022). The Nutritional Quality of Kids’ Menus from Cafés and Restaurants: An Australian Cross-Sectional Study. Nutrients, 14(13), article number 2741. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14132741.
  • Francis, J., Strobel, N., Trapp, G., Pearce, N., Vaz, S., Christian, H., Runions, K., Martin, K., Cross, D. (2022). How does the school built environment impact students’ bullying behaviour? A scoping review. Social Science and Medicine, 314(2022), article number 115451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115451.
  • Trapp, G., Hooper, P., Billingham, W., Thornton, L., Sartori, A., Kennington, K., Devine, A., Godrich, S., Sambell, R., Howard, J., Bivoltsis, A. (2022). Would you like fries with that? Investigating fast‐food outlet availability near schools in Perth, Western Australia. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(S1), 262-265. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.597.
  • Trapp, G., Hurworth, M., Christian, H., Bromberg, M., Howard, J., McStay, C., Allen, K., Cross, D., Oddy, W., Harray, A., Hammond, D. (2022). Individual, Social, and Environmental Correlates of Energy Drink Use Among Adolescents. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 54(3), 255-262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2020.12.013.
  • Christian, H., Murray, K., Trost, S., Schipperijn, J., Trapp, G., Maitland, C., Divitini, M. (2022). Meeting the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years is associated with better social-emotional development in preschool boys. Preventive Medicine Reports, 27(Article in press), article number 101770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101770.
  • Francis, J., Sachan, P., Waters, Z., Trapp, G., Pearce, N., Burns, S., Lin, A., Cross, D. (2022). Gender-Neutral Toilets: A Qualitative Exploration of Inclusive School Environments for Sexuality and Gender Diverse Youth in Western Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(16), article number 10089. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610089.
  • Nathan, A., Adams, E., Trost, S., Cross, D., Schipperijn, J., McLaughlin, M., Thornton, A., Trapp, G., Lester, L., George, P., Wenden, E., Christian, H. (2022). Evaluating the effectiveness of the Play Active policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: a pragmatic cluster randomised trial protocol. BMC Public Health, 22(1), article number 306. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12729-5.
  • Francis, J., Trapp, G., Pearce, N., Burns, S., Cross, D. (2022). School Built Environments and Bullying Behaviour: A Conceptual Model Based on Qualitative Interviews. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23), article number 15955. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315955.

Journal Articles

  • Trapp, G., Hurworth, M., Jacoby, P., Maddison, K., Allen, K., Martin, K., Christian, H., Ambrosini, G., Oddy, W., Eastwood, P. (2021). Energy drink intake is associated with insomnia and decreased daytime functioning in young adult females. Public Health Nutrition, 24(6), 1328-1337. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980020001652.
  • Trapp, G., Hurworth, M., Christian, H., Bromberg, M., Howard, J., McStay, C., Ambrosini, G., Martin, K., Harray, A., Cross, D., Oddy, W., Hammond, D. (2021). Prevalence and pattern of energy drink intake among Australian adolescents. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 34(2), 300-304. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12789.
  • Trapp, G., Hooper, P., Thornton, L., Kennington, K., Sartori, A., Wickens, N., Billingham, W. (2021). Exposure to unhealthy food and beverage advertising during the school commute in Australia. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 75(12), 1232-1235. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2021-217032.
  • Trapp, G., Hooper, P., Thornton, L., Kennington, K., Sartori, A., Hurworth, M., Billingham, W. (2021). Association between food-outlet availability near secondary schools and junk-food purchasing among Australian adolescents. Nutrition, 91-92(Article in press), article number 111488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2021.111488.
  • Appannah, G., Murray, K., Trapp, G., Dymock, M., Oddy, W., Ambrosini, G. (2021). Dietary pattern trajectories across adolescence and early adulthood and their associations with childhood and parental factors. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 113(1), 36-46. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqaa281.

Journal Articles

  • Maitland, C., Lester, L., Trost, S., Rosenberg, M., Schipperijn, J., Trapp, G., Bai, P., Christian, H. (2020). The influence of the early childhood education and care environment on young children’s physical activity: Development and reliability of the playce study environmental audit and educator survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(7), article number 2497. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072497.
  • Kaur, S., Christian, H., Cooper, M., Francis, J., Allen, K., Trapp, G. (2020). Consumption of energy drinks is associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in young adult males: Evidence from a longitudinal cohort study. Depression and Anxiety, 37(11), 1089-1098. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.23090.
  • Christian, H., Cross, D., Rosenberg, M., Schipperijn, J., Shilton, T., Trapp, G., Trost, S., Nathan, A., Maitland, C., Thornton, A., Wenden, E., George, P. (2020). Development of physical activity policy and implementation strategies for early childhood education and care settings using the Delphi process. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17(1), article number 131. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-020-01034-2.
  • Hooper, P., Foster, S., Bull, F., Knuiman, M., Christian, H., Timperio, A., Wood, L., Trapp, G., Boruff, B., Francis, J., Strange, C., Badland, H., Gunn, L., Falconer, R., Learnihan, V., McCormack, G., Sugiyama, T., Giles-Corti, B. (2020). Living liveable? RESIDE's evaluation of the “Liveable Neighborhoods” planning policy on the health supportive behaviors and wellbeing of residents in Perth, Western Australia. Social Science and Medicine – Population Health, 10(Article in press), article number 100538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100538.
  • Trapp, G., Hurworth, M., Jacoby, P., Christian, H., Ambrosini, G., Oddy, W., Straker, L., Mori, T., Beilin, L., Allen, K. (2020). Energy drink intake and metabolic syndrome: A prospective investigation in young adults. Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 30(10), 1679-1684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2020.06.012.
  • Bell, M., Turrell, G., Beesley, B., Boruff, B., Trapp, G., Zubrick, S., Christian, H. (2020). Children's neighbourhood physical environment and early development: An individual child level linked data study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 74(4), 321-329. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2019-212686.
  • Bivoltsis, A., Trapp, G., Knuiman, M., Hooper, P., Ambrosini, G. (2020). The influence of the local food environment on diet following residential relocation: Longitudinal results from RESIDential Environments (RESIDE). Public Health Nutrition, 23(12), 2132-2144. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980019005111.
  • Foster, S., Hooper, P., Divitini, M., Knuiman, M., Trapp, G. (2020). Over the limit? Testing non-linear associations between alcohol outlets and young adults' alcohol consumption. Drug and Alcohol Review, 39(6), 664-670. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13115.
  • Bivoltsis, A., Trapp, G., Knuiman, M., Hooper, P., Ambrosini, G. (2020). Do changes in the local food environment within new residential developments influence the diets of residents? Longitudinal results from RESIDE. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), Article number 6778. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186778.
  • Pulker, C., Trapp, G., Fallows, M., Hooper, P., McKee, H., Pollard, C. (2020). Food Outlets Dietary Risk (FODR) assessment tool: study protocol for assessing the public health nutrition risks of community food environments. Nutrition Journal, 19(1), article number 122. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-020-00641-w.
  • Bai, P., Thornton, A., Lester, L., Schipperijn, J., Trapp, G., Boruff, B., Ng, M., Wenden, E., Christian, H. (2020). Nature play and fundamental movement skills training programs improve childcare educator supportive physical activity behavior. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(1), article number 223. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010223.

Journal Articles

  • Bromberg, M., Cardaci, N., Trapp, G., Luong, K. (2019). Have a (Non-Energy) Drink on Me—Modifying the Laws Regarding Energy Drinks in Australia. Food and Drug Law Journal, 74(3), 440-477.
  • Bivoltsis, A., Trapp, G., Knuiman, M., Hooper, P., Ambrosini, G. (2019). The evolution of local food environments within established neighbourhoods and new developments in Perth, Western Australia. Health & Place, 57(Article in press), 204-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.04.011.
  • Armstrong, G., Maitland, C., Lester, L., Trost, S., Trapp, G., Boruff, B., Al Marzooqi, M., Christian, H. (2019). Associations between the home yard and preschoolers’ outdoor play and physical activity. Public Health Research & Practice, 29(1), article number e2911907. https://doi.org/10.17061/phrp2911907.
  • Pulker, C., Pulker, C., Trapp, G., Scott, J., Pollard, C. (2019). The nature and quality of australian supermarkets’ policies that can impact public health nutrition, and evidence of their practical application: A cross-sectional study. Nutrients, 11(4), article number 853. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040853.
  • Christian, H., Lester, L., Trost, S., Trapp, G., Schipperijn, J., Boruff, B., Maitland, C., Jeemi, Z., Rosenberg, M., Barber, P., Eslick, H. (2019). Shade coverage, ultraviolet radiation and children’s physical activity in early childhood education and care. International Journal of Public Health, 64(9), 1325-1333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01289-y.

Journal Articles

  • Ambrosini, G., Hurworth, M., Giglia, R., Trapp, G., Strauss, P. (2018). Feasibility of a commercial smartphone application for dietary assessment in epidemiological research and comparison with 24-h dietary recalls. Nutrition Journal, 17(1), article number 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-018-0315-4.
  • Bivoltsis, A., Trapp, G., Knuiman, M., Hooper, P., Ambrosini, G. (2018). Can a simple dietary index derived from a sub-set of questionnaire items assess diet quality in a sample of australian adults?. Nutrients, 10(4), Article number 486. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10040486.
  • Pulker, C., Trapp, G., Scott, J., Pollard, C. (2018). Global supermarkets' corporate social responsibility commitments to public health: A content analysis. Globalization and Health, 14(1), article number 121. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-018-0440-z.
  • Pulker, C., Trapp, G., Scott, J., Pollard, C. (2018). What are the position and power of supermarkets in the Australian food system, and the implications for public health? A systematic scoping review. Obesity Reviews, 19(2), 198-218. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12635.
  • Pulker, C., Thornton, L., Trapp, G. (2018). What is known about consumer nutrition environments in Australia? A scoping review of the literature. Obesity Science & Practice, 4(4), 318-337. https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.275.
  • Bivoltsis, A., Cervigni, E., Trapp, G., Knuiman, M., Hooper, P., Ambrosini, G. (2018). Food environments and dietary intakes among adults: Does the type of spatial exposure measurement matter? A systematic review. International Journal of Health Geographics, 17(1), Article number 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12942-018-0139-7.
  • Pulker, C., Trapp, G., Foulkes-Taylor, F., Scott, J., Pollard, C. (2018). The extent and nature of supermarket own brand foods in Australia: Study protocol for describing the contribution of selected products to the healthfulness of food environments. Nutrition Journal, 17(1), article number 95. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-018-0404-4.
  • Oddy, W., Allen, K., Trapp, G., Ambrosini, G., Black, L., Huang, R., Rzehak, P., Runions, K., Pan, F., Beilin, L., Mori, T. (2018). Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 69(Mar-18), 428-439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2018.01.002.
  • Foster, S., Hooper, P., Knuiman, M., Lester, L., Trapp, G. (2018). Associations between proposed local government liquor store size classifications and alcohol consumption in young adults. Health & Place, 52(Article in press), 170-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.06.001.
  • Nathan, A., Villanueva, K., Rozek, J., Davern, M., Gunn, L., Trapp, G., Boulangé, C., Christian, H. (2018). The Role of the Built Environment on Health Across the Life Course: A Call for CollaborACTION. American Journal of Health Promotion, 32(6), 1460-1468. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117118779463a.
  • Trapp, G., Knuiman, M., Hooper, P., Foster, S. (2018). Proximity to Liquor Stores and Adolescent Alcohol Intake: A Prospective Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(6), 825-830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.01.043.
  • Pulker, C., Trapp, G., Scott, J., Pollard, C. (2018). Alignment of supermarket own brand foods’ front-of-pack nutrition labelling with measures of nutritional quality: An australian perspective. Nutrients, 10(10), article number 1465. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10101465.

Research Projects

  • Feeding the Future: Improving children’s nutritional health and wellbeing through innovative food environment interventions, Stan Perron Charitable Trust, Programs and Partnerships Grant, 2024 ‑ 2028, $1,462,532.

Research Student Supervision

No data available

Associate Supervisor

  • Spatial Exposure to Food Outlets and Dietary Intake: A Longitudinal Study in Perth, Western Australia
  • A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Australian Supermarkets’ Corporate Social Responsibility Commitments to Public Health: The Case of Supermarket Own Brand Foods
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