The Australasian Research Institute (ARI) launched in July last year here at the San is undertaking a research project into teenage health.

In keeping with the Institute’s aims to increase health and wellbeing in the community the Teen Health Study aims to investigate the relationship between nutrition and lifestyle behaviours.

It will look at selected markers of cardiovascular health in 14-15 year old children attending five Adventist high schools within the Sydney-Newcastle area.

With a number of students from these schools having a predominantly vegetarian diet it is hoped that amongst other things, the study will supply data on how lower meat intake affects the body.
 
This project is only one of a number of projects planned.
Dr Ross Grant, ARI Executive Officer said the Institute aimed to make a significant contribution to Australia’s research in regard to health and human physiology.

“In addition to acute medical intervention, improving health through nutrition and lifestyle, has been a key focus of Adventist healthcare throughout the world over the past century” said Dr Grant.

“We live in an ageing population, where rising obesity levels and the incidence of diseases, such as diabetes, will be placing a major strain on the Australian health system in years to come.

A report on the need for the study indicates that the emergence of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents has increased over the past few decades. Childhood weight problems lead to adult weight problems, cardiovascular disease and death. Poor lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise have contributed to this health risk

The negative effect on health in early adult life is yet to be determined, but poor diet and lack of exercise almost certainly predisposes these adolescents to accelerated cardiovascular risk factors in early adulthood. Quite clearly, strategies for prevention of children becoming overweight and targeted interventions for prevention of the progression of overweight children to obese children are urgently required in school-aged children in order to stem the epidemic of overweight adults.
 
Vegetarian diets seem to be popular among some teenagers. Teenagers raised in vegetarian families may have an advantage by being exposed to a larger range of fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts than their meat-eating counterparts”

Further information about the ARI can be found at www.australasianresearch.org

Any queries regarding the ARI projects should be directed to Dr Ross Grant or Wayne Cooper. Ph 9487 9601

Want to donate or become an “Associate Member” ? Go to www.australasianresearch.org. "Supporting Us". Or post a cheque to   Australasian Research Institute.  185 Fox Valley Rd Wahroonga NSW 2076.  Please include details for receipts to be forwarded. Donations $2.00 and above are tax deductible.