2012 Press Releases
UCC study looks for answers
The research is investigating the wellbeing, diet and exercise levels of Cork children. To date, the study has received significant support from the participating schools, parents and children. In particular, the children have enjoyed wearing the accelerometers, a device which measures the frequency and intensity of physical activity.
140 children from five schools participated in the pilot study. Though it is too early to draw conclusions at this stage, there are some indications of patterns in the data. Some of the early findings are as follows:
- One in ten children who took part in the study was considered to have high blood pressure based on an interpretation of British Hypertension Society guidelines.
- Twice as many overweight/obese children had high blood pressure when compared to normal weight children.
- Over half of the children (55%) reported adding salt to their food most days or every day.
- Parents reported that 75% of boys and just over half of the girls completed at least 20 minutes of hard exercise for a least three days in the previous week. 61% of boys reported being active during lunch break at school compared with 37% of girls.
The study is funded by the National Children's Research Centre in Crumlin, and is led by Professor Ivan Perry and Dr Janas Harrington from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCC.
Further information about the study is available at: http://www.nationalchildrensresearchcentre.ie/project/view/35