HMRI and award winning health and fitness organisation The Forum have joined forces to improve the health of current and future generations.

HMRI and The Forum [which is managed by Newcastle University Sport (NUsport)] have formed an exciting research partnership which will investigate ways of increasing children’s interest in sport, physical activity and long-term participation in sport.

Dr Christine Paul and Dr Erica James from the Centre for Health Research and Psycho-oncology and the University of Newcastle will conduct the study which will identify the proportion of children who increase their sporting activity following attendance at The Forum Holiday Camps.

The rate of childhood obesity has risen greatly in many nations in the past 20 years. Physical activity plays an important role in preventing or reducing the severity of the condition but little is known about how to increase and maintain children’s involvement in organised sporting activity.

The research partnership, launched in April 2007, will help HMRI and The Forum to understand ways to tackle one of the region’s greatest health issues – reducing the incidence of childhood obesity.

In addition to funding this important research project, The Forum will invest in HMRI by promoting its research and activities to its members.

For more information on The Forum visit www.theforum.org.au/.

Left [L-R]: NUSport Board Member Andrew Johnson, The Forum General Manager Samantha Martin-Williams, Researcher Dr Christine Paul, HMRI Director Professor Maree Gleeson and HMRI Chairperson Bob Kennedy.