University Research Associate Tracy McCaffrey checks a volunteer in a Bod-Pod, a state-of-the-art piece of research equipment used by the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, which is based at the Coleraine campus.

Researchers at the University of Ulster are trying to trace 100 young people who took part in a child development study at Coleraine eight years ago.

NICHE, the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health is conducting a follow-up comparative study and needs the five to eight-year-olds from the original survey to come forward again.

“This is an exciting opportunity to investigate which lifestyle factors impact on health during growth,” said Barbara Livingstone, Professor of Nutrition at the School of Biomedical Sciences, who conducted the first survey.

“With our new research facilities we are able to examine changes in bone and muscle development and determine how diet, physical activity and other factors in childhood may influence this development.”

NICHE, which is based at the Coleraine campus, has been awarded an external research grant for £311,000, from the Food Standards Agency, London, for the latest survey, which is being conducted in collaboration with MRC Human Nutrition Research, Cambridge.

The first survey was conducted during 1996-98. The children underwent a series of tests, including being weighed under water.

However this has been replaced by a state-of-the-art piece of equipment known as a Bod-Pod. “This is an egg-shaped capsule which is more than 5ft high, and is a lot more comfortable for people, as we get very accurate measurements of body make-up, such as muscle content, “ said Research Associate Tracy McCaffrey.

“If you or your child took part in the first study and are interested in taking part in this follow-up, please contact us at the University,” she said.

For further information, please contact:

Martin Cowley
Telephone: 028 71675083
Email: Martin Cowley