Credit: MCRI
Credit: MCRI

NEWS BRIEFING: How healthy are 11-12 year old Aussies?

Embargoed until: Publicly released:

NEWS BRIEFING: Thu 4 July 2019 at 10:00 AEST ONLINE.  A one-off health check of 1,800 Australian children, aged 11 to 12 years, has tested everything from weight and cholesterol to lung function, hearing and sleep, to see just how healthy Aussie pre-teens are. And while most are healthy, there is room for improvement especially when it comes to physical activity, sleep, snacking, weight and early signs of chronic kidney disease. In a series of studies, known as the Child Health CheckPoint, researchers conducted 20 different health tests on kids aged 11-12 from over 30 Australian cities and towns across the whole country. Researchers also tested at least one parent, to get an idea which elements of our health are inherited and which come down to the choices we make. Join this briefing to hear the results of the Child Health CheckPoint.

Journal/conference: BMJ Open

Link to research (DOI): 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030833

Organisation/s: Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), The University of Melbourne, University of Auckland, University of South Australia, Monash University, University of Sydney, Perth Children's Hospital, Deakin University, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The Royal Children’s Hospital, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, University of Tasmania, Victoria University.

Funder: This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (Project Grants 1041352, 1109355), The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation (2014-241), the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), The University of Melbourne, the National Heart Foundation of Australia (100660) and the Financial Markets Foundation for Children (2014- 055, 2016-310). MW was supported by the NHMRC (Senior Research Fellowship 1046518, Principal Research Fellowship 1160906) and Cure Kids New Zealand. See individual papers for further funding information

Media Briefing/Press Conference

From: Australian Science Media Centre

A one-off health check of 1,800 Australian children, aged 11 to 12 years, has tested everything from weight and cholesterol to lung function, hearing and sleep, to see just how healthy Aussie pre-teens are. 

And while most are healthy, there is room for improvement especially when it comes to physical activity, sleep, snacking, weight and early signs of chronic kidney disease. 

In a series of studies, known as the Child Health CheckPoint, researchers conducted 20 different health tests on kids aged 11-12 from over 30 Australian cities and towns across the whole country. 

Researchers also tested at least one parent, to get an idea which elements of our health are inherited and which come down to the choices we make. 

Join this briefing to hear the results of the Child Health CheckPoint.

Speakers:

  • Prof Melissa Wake - Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
  • Dr Jessica Kerr - Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
  • Prof Timothy Olds - University of South Australia

***Briefing concluded - a full recording is available below***

Attachments:

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  • The BMJ
    Web page
    Please link to the article in online versions of your report (the URL will go live after the embargo ends).
  • Australian Science Media Centre
    Web page
    Full recording of the briefing

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  • Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint
    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

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    Attribution: MCRI

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    Last modified: 05 Jul 2019 12:09am

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  • Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint
    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    File size: 3.2 MB

    Attribution: MCRI

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 05 Jul 2019 12:09am

    NOTE: High resolution files can only be downloaded here by registered journalists who are logged in.

  • Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint
    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    File size: 2.9 MB

    Attribution: MCRI

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 05 Jul 2019 12:09am

    NOTE: High resolution files can only be downloaded here by registered journalists who are logged in.

  • Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint
    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    File size: 3.2 MB

    Attribution: MCRI

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 05 Jul 2019 12:09am

    NOTE: High resolution files can only be downloaded here by registered journalists who are logged in.

  • Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint
    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    File size: 3.2 MB

    Attribution: MCRI

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 05 Jul 2019 12:09am

    NOTE: High resolution files can only be downloaded here by registered journalists who are logged in.

  • Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint
    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    File size: 2.4 MB

    Attribution: MCRI

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 05 Jul 2019 12:09am

    NOTE: High resolution files can only be downloaded here by registered journalists who are logged in.

  • Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint
    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    Participants in the Child Health Checkpoint

    File size: 2.6 MB

    Attribution: MCRI

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 05 Jul 2019 12:09am

    NOTE: High resolution files can only be downloaded here by registered journalists who are logged in.

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