Physical activity is an important part of having a healthy life, and is commonly prescribed for managing your weight. But what about the challenges facing overweight children? How can we better understand the physical barriers these children must overcome so they can be physically active?
It's well known that Kiwis have a love affair with caffeine - but how many of us know about the potential hidden harm it could be causing us? Scientists at Massey University and University of Auckland are leading a large-scale research programme aiming to build a detailed picture of the amount of caffeine we're consuming, and how our varying rates of metabolism or genetic traits could be causing unseen problems.
The Sport and Exercise Science student, who recently submitted his Master of Science thesis at Massey University’s Auckland campus, also works full time at New Zealand Football as a sports scientist for the All Whites.
Activity trackers have been placed on toddlers as part of a pioneering research programme in early learning centres aimed at tackling New Zealand's childhood obesity epidemic.
The positive effects of caffeine get plenty of play –combating fatigue and increasing alertness – but what are the downsides? A recent discovery reveals your risk of suffering from negative effects of caffeine is largely based on your genetics.
Drinks Research in Kids’ Sport (DRinKS) is the brainchild of Bachelor of Science Honours student Daniel Gordon. His study, majoring in exercise and sports science, is being supported by senior lecturer Dr Ajmol Ali from the School of Sport and Exercise, other sports scientists, as well as nutritionists from the School of Food and Nutrition.
International research shows that children with better motor skills have improved academic and cognitive abilities and also enhanced physical activity levels as adolescents and adults.
While more than 70 per cent of New Zealanders consume caffeine regularly, most don’t understand the effect it can have on their sporting performance, sleep, mood and cognitive functions.
The country’s best female basketball players at the Under 19 level battled it out at trials at Massey University’s Recreation Centre in Albany on Friday night. Around 50 young women took part, in the hope of securing a spot in the New Zealand U19 Women’s Team.
New Zealand is currently ranked third in the OECD with 26.5 per cent of the adult population deemed obese. But the worrying trend is that, at 28.5 per cent, the percentage of New Zealand children aged two to 14 years in the obese category is even higher.