A research project measuring the body fat of Pacific adolescents is being hailed as a benchmark in Pacific research.
Assoc. Prof. Robert Scragg, researcher John Sluyter and Assoc. Prof. Lindsay Plank.
The study, the largest of its type in the world, is part of the Obesity Prevention in Communities (OPIC) project. New Zealand is one of four participating countries (Fiji, Tonga and Australia are the others). Currently, there is no evidence to support the best theoretical approach to comprehensive, community-based obesity prevention programs in young populations.
“This study is important because the method that we routinely use at the moment to measure body fat, body mass index (BMI), doesn’t distinguish between lean and fat mass.” explains John. “By using this machine we are able to generate equations that allow us to determine how much body fat a person has and that takes account of their lean mass as well.”
Associate Professor Robert Scragg of the University of Auckland’s School of Population Health has been supervising the research. He says John’s findings are significant. “The main aim of the study is to try and implement community-based interventions around obesity prevention. John’s equations will allow us to more accurately quantify the level of obesity in the Pacific community here and in the islands.”
“It’s the biggest study of adolescents in the world. It’s likely to be the benchmark for many years to come.”
