Oregon State Researchers Seeking Children for Study

The study is part of a $2.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Salem-News.com

(CORVALLIS, Ore. ) - Oregon State University reseachers are seeking children ages six to 15 for a new study that will record energy expenditure and changes in physical activity.

The results will be used to improve measurement of physical activity in school-based exercise programs.

The study is part of a $2.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The principal investigator, Stewart Trost, is a new faculty member in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences at Oregon State University.

Trost previously worked at Kansas State University and is a native of Australia, where he wrote the official physical activity guidelines for children.

In this methodology study, Trost is testing the accuracy of formulas uses to convert data recorded by accelerometers, or motion sensors, into units of energy expenditure.

According to Trost, current methods are underdeveloped and a more accurate method for measuring energy expenditures is needed.

Trost will follow a cohort of children aged six to 15 for three years to measure their physical activity expenditure performing a variety of tasks.

Trost said one-third of children ages two to 19 are overweight or obese.

Finding an accurate way of measuring their energy use and physical activity is more important than ever, he said.

Trost is seeking 100 children for this study.

Participants will visit the Physical Activity Research Laboratory at OSU four times in a one-month period and repeat visits once per year.

Children will be asked to perform activities such as resting quietly, writing on paper, playing catch, walking slowly and doing step aerobics.

While doing the activities, the children will wear a heart rate monitoring belt around the chest and three activity monitors on an elastic belt around the waist.

They also will wear a breathing mask and a small, lightweight computer unit, called a portable metabolic system, on top of the shoulders.

Participants in the research study will receive a stipend. Their parents will receive information about their child’s body mass index and body fat percentage, which are important indicators of current and future health status.

Children who want to participate do not need to be overweight, but must be able to perform normal physical activities such as walking and running.

Those interested in participating in this study should contact Trost at 541-737-5931 or e-mail stewart.trost@oregonstate.edu.