The SPEEDY study looks at physical activity and diet in children aged between 9 and 10 years in Norfolk, and how this changes when they move into secondary school. This study aims to improve our understanding of current patterns of diet and physical activity among children. It is hoped that this will identify specific factors which are associated with diet and physical activity. This information can then be used to help design interventions and policies that promote increased physical activity and healthy eating in children.

Over the summer term of 2007, we recruited over 2,000 children from around 90 schools across Norfolk. Physical activity was measured using questionnaires and accelerometers (Actigraph). Food diaries and food frequency questionnaires were then used to measure dietary habits. Children, parents and head teachers completed detailed questionnaires assessing potential determinants of these health behaviours and the children’s height and weight were also measured. We have followed up the children when they were in Year 6 (SPEEDY-2), and after they had moved to secondary school and were in Year 9 (SPEEDY-3).

The SPEEDY study is a collaborative study with Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.