CQU is leading research into school and family influences on the health of adolescents via the CHASE project.

CHASE stands for 'Creating Healthy Adolescents and Secondary School Environments'.

The project is being coordinated by PhD student Sue Williams from the School of Health and Human Performance.

"We are specifically investigating adolescent physical activity and nutrition behaviours and how the school environment can be altered to promote their immediate and long term health," Ms Williams said.

This research is funded by the Telstra Foundation and will be conducted over the next 18 months in Rockhampton secondary schools.

The study aims to create healthy secondary school environments where students are able to develop healthy behaviours and make healthy choices that will promote their immediate and long term health in relation to physical activity and nutrition.

To achieve this aim the study will investigate:.

' Students’ physical activity behaviours.

' Students’ nutrition behaviours.

' Parental involvement in their child’s sport and physical activity.

' Family rules about watching TV/videos and playing computer games.

' Family nutrition habits.

' School policies, procedures, curriculum, physical and social environments and community partnerships that may promote or inhibit adolescent health behaviours.

"Little is known about the secondary school environment and how it influences adolescent physical activity and nutrition behaviours." Ms Williams said.

"Schools provide opportunities for adolescents to learn and develop healthy behaviours, and schools provide ideal settings for influencing adolescent health behaviours.".

Height and body weight measures of participating school children will be taken at the start of the project, and again after 12 months, to track the benefits of interventions.

Details about CHASE are available from Sue Williams on 4930 9141.