Teens less fit than parents were

Forums › Health and fitness › Teens less fit than parents were - Dunedin Study

Fred99

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#240725 22-Sep-2018 09:03

https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/366950/modern-teens-less-fit-than-parents-at-same-age-study

The findings were part of the long-term University of Otago's Dunedin Study which has surveyed health for more than 40 years.

The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study compared the fitness of members of the study measured in 1986 and 1987 with the results of 343 of participants' 15-year-old children.

Heart rates of teenagers taken an exercise bike were worse than their parents at the same age.

Researcher Dr Helena McAnally said there was a difference between genders.

Girls were about 25 percent less fit than their mothers generation, and boys' fitness was about 15 percent lower than their parents.

Can't say I'm surprised to see this. Shame that there's no way to see one generation further back using the same metrics - I'd guess there may have already been a similar decline. Anecdote only - but I think supported by looking at old school photos and comparing - on average IMO a class photo of Form 5 from about 1972 - the average looks underweight or almost malnourished by today's standards.

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#2094854 22-Sep-2018 09:18

Never would have guessed and they actually paid someone to research this! What a waste of time and money

John

tdgeek

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#2094857 22-Sep-2018 09:25

Linux:

Never would have guessed and they actually paid someone to research this! What a waste of time and money

John

As I just stated on the Neighbourly article about this. When I was a kid I ate lots of bikkies, we had puddings a lot (Duff as my Dad was in the Navy) But we played outside, all over the place, climbing trees, catching bees. None of this sit on the couch mid Summer to play on a tablet or console. Back then the only tablet was the one Fred Flintstone used! Meals and school lunches where meals not processed crap.

Linux

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#2094859 22-Sep-2018 09:28

I rode my HMX 600 everywhere my parents did not wrap me in cotton wool and run me around, My Dad was in the navy as well for just over 20 years

John

Paparangi

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#2094860 22-Sep-2018 09:30

Linux:

Never would have guessed and they actually paid someone to research this! What a waste of time and money

John

While I agree that these particular findings may seem obvious, it is still excellent to have them confirmed within an actual scientific study. The Dunedin study itself is fantastic, and is definitely not a waste of money. Its one of the world's largest and highest retention longitudinal studies ever run, allowing for great analysis of development and growth throughout a life time. Have a read if you are interested:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunedin_Multidisciplinary_Health_and_Development_Study

https://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz

cruxis

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#2094861 22-Sep-2018 09:33

Just compare 1980s school photos with current ones. Not just fitness, Physical Strength is even worse too. Especially boys. My nephews could't even carry 40Kg sack of spuds.

driller2000

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#2094862 22-Sep-2018 09:34

Linux:

Never would have guessed and they actually paid someone to research this! What a waste of time and money

John

Errr nope.

This is part of the Dunedin study which has provided excellent data for decades now for policymakers both in NZ and internationally:

https://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz/

This latest piece of work builds on this study and can be used to further to understand what these changes mean in the future for health and well being - and again inform policies into the future - you know data, evidence, science:

https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago696164.html

tdgeek

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#2094863 22-Sep-2018 09:36

Paparangi:

Linux:

Never would have guessed and they actually paid someone to research this! What a waste of time and money

John

While I agree that these particular findings may seem obvious, it is still excellent to have them confirmed within an actual scientific study. The Dunedin study itself is fantastic, and is definitely not a waste of money. Its one of the world's largest and highest retention longitudinal studies ever run, allowing for great analysis of development and growth throughout a life time. Have a read if you are interested:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunedin_Multidisciplinary_Health_and_Development_Study

https://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz

Maybe so, but you could randomly research 100 families now, and their grandparents and reach the same conclusion. Or do no research as its obvious.

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afe66

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#2094879 22-Sep-2018 09:57

tdgeek:
Paparangi:

Linux:

Never would have guessed and they actually paid someone to research this! What a waste of time and money

John

While I agree that these particular findings may seem obvious, it is still excellent to have them confirmed within an actual scientific study. The Dunedin study itself is fantastic, and is definitely not a waste of money. Its one of the world's largest and highest retention longitudinal studies ever run, allowing for great analysis of development and growth throughout a life time. Have a read if you are interested:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunedin_Multidisciplinary_Health_and_Development_Study

https://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz

Maybe so, but you could randomly research 100 families now, and their grandparents and reach the same conclusion. Or do no research as its obvious.

Except that would be retrospective which is significantly weaker evidence.

This is a prospective study. The actually asked the parents about exercise level at the time they were 15 not now and asking them to remember then asked their current children at 15. They also will have accurate physical data collected at the time (I can't tell what my BMI was when I was 15 if you asked me now.. And I have no idea who my go was then. Teenage boys don't go to gps')

The sample sizes are bigger than 100 too.

Fred99

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#2094881 22-Sep-2018 10:05

Linux:

Never would have guessed and they actually paid someone to research this! What a waste of time and money

John

Do you say that because you consider it pointless to research the "blindingly obvious" - or for some other reason?

Linux

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#2094887 22-Sep-2018 10:26

Fred99:

Linux:

Never would have guessed and they actually paid someone to research this! What a waste of time and money

John

Do you say that because you consider it pointless to research the "blindingly obvious" - or for some other reason?

It's already known kids don't get out as much running about , riding bikes , climbing trees , Going fishing ETC

Most kids now get dropped off at school even if they live 400 meters from the school yard gate! I live in Milford and 7 seat BMW's everywhere dropping off kids

John

DarthKermit

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#2094889 22-Sep-2018 10:28

Must be because we're all sitting on our bums typing away on the Internet. (Ironically I'm sitting on my bum and typing this post.)

Linux

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#2094891 22-Sep-2018 10:32

DarthKermit:

Must be because we're all sitting on our bums typing away on the Internet. (Ironically I'm sitting on my bum and typing this post.)

Correct and this is not rocket science and this is why I say a waste of money!

John

tdgeek

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#2094892 22-Sep-2018 10:33

DarthKermit:

Must be because we're all sitting on our bums typing away on the Internet. (Ironically I'm sitting on my bum and typing this post.)

LOL same, and agree. But Ive just spent time digging gardens, so happy to donate a low joule use period back to post!

afe66

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#2094912 22-Sep-2018 11:11

The actual cost of this would have not been that high as it may have been if a single research project as it is one question asked amongst a myriad of other questions, measurements blood tests etc.

They collect a very large amount of data in their 5 Yearly interviews then publish in between.

Hundreds of papers have been written from this project.

Hammerer

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#2094924 22-Sep-2018 11:48

Linux:

DarthKermit:

Must be because we're all sitting on our bums typing away on the Internet. (Ironically I'm sitting on my bum and typing this post.)

Correct and this is not rocket science and this is why I say a waste of money!

John

The research isn't identifying if the obvious has happened. The researchers are focused on quantifying how much it has happened, what the health impact when factors are varied, what factors appear to contribute to it, what factors appear to protect against it, and so on. That is what is well worth paying for.

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