Move to prevent later childhood obesity

by michelecrawshaw | Apr 7, 2021 | Big Data, Healthy Weight, Media release, News, Newsletter, Updates

Researchers are a step closer to developing a prediction model for childhood obesity in New Zealand. Childhood obesity is a serious public health challenge, and identifying high-risk individuals for early intervention is a priority. Worldwide, an estimated 40.6...

Screen time, sleep and food: Hawke’s Bay children’s habits the focus of A Better Start research

by michelecrawshaw | Apr 6, 2021 | Healthy Weight, Media release, News, Newsletter

The sleep habits, screen time, physical activity and food intake of hundreds of Hawke’s Bay primary and secondary school students are coming under the scrutiny of A Better Start researchers. More than 1300 Year 5 and Year 9 students from almost 30 schools are...

Sleep treatment used by 1 in 4 NZ children with autism

by michelecrawshaw | Mar 30, 2021 | Big Data, Media release, News, Newsletter, Peer reviewed publication

One in four children on the autism spectrum in New Zealand are given melatonin to help them sleep, a new study co-authored by a Better Start National Science Challenge researcher has found. The study’s lead author Associate Professor Laurie McLay says the treatment,...

Meet The Researcher – Tania Cargo

by michelecrawshaw | Mar 24, 2021 | Media release, Meet the Researcher, News, Newsletter, Our people, Resilient Teens

Tania Cargo co-leads A Better Start’s Resilient Teens team, which is working with Māori and Pacific students, schools and communities to co-design and test a digital platform to offer young people and their families easier access to evidence-based help and advice to...

A Better Start professors elected as Fellows to Royal Society Te Apārangi

by michelecrawshaw | Mar 16, 2021 | Directorate, Media release, News, Our people

Congratulations to A Better Start’s Deputy Director Gail Gillon and Māori Strategy theme leader Professor Helen Moewaka Barnes, who have both been elected Ngā Ahurei a Te Apārangi Fellows of the Academy of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. Being made a Fellow is an...

What are our children learning?

by michelecrawshaw | Mar 8, 2021 | Media release, News, Peer reviewed publication, Successful Literacy and Learning, Updates

An innovative literacy programme is being rolled out to the nation’s schools this year as part of the Ministry of Education’s major new initiative to improve literacy outcomes for all New Zealand children. The Better Start Literacy Approach (BLSA) is an...