07 April 2009

Free health checks, which have been available for young adults living in the top end as part of a Menzies School of Health Research project, are about to come to and end and researchers are calling on teenagers and young adults to get checked out before its too late!

Since the start of 2008, the health of young adults living in the Top End has being targeted in a long-term research project which has been casting its net to gather in young people aged between 16 and 21 for health checks that will help to identify those most at risk of developing diseases or other health problems as they grow older.

The study, which is completely voluntary, is due to finish in the coming weeks. The team has been extremely pleased with the response thus far with 175 people seen and hopes of expanding to 200 before the study concludes.

Study leader, Dr Gurmeet Singh, said that studies of this particular age group were particularly important as the silent progression towards chronic disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease is likely to have already started.

“Adolescent obesity has reached epidemic proportions in Australia and Type 2 diabetes rates are increasing, with the onset of the disease getting earlier in life. These and other chronic conditions including heart disease and kidney disease can increase the risk of dying at an earlier age than expected” said Dr Singh.

“The clinic is a full health check up with the emphasis being on your choice” said Dr Singh.

The health checks involve measurements of the young person’s height, weight, body composite. There will also be ultrasounds of kidneys, thyroid and the carotid (the artery in the neck).

The study, which has been holding a number of weekend clinics as well as clinics at high schools in the Darwin region, has almost reached its final target of 200 teens.

“We have been thrilled with the level of response” said Dr Singh.

“Whilst, as expected, majority of the people we have seen have been fit and healthy, there has been a small number who required follow-up with their doctors. This has been in response to us detecting the early alterations to the results of their thyroids, kidneys or blood tests. These early alterations can be treated with modifications to their diet and lifestyles are treatable.”

The specific target is young people born in Darwin between 1987 and 1991, even if they may have grown up somewhere else and have spent part of their schooling in other parts of Australia. The study aims to revisit the volunteers and check on their health at four or five year intervals, hopefully following them throughout their lives.

All volunteers who take part in the study will be thanked with a free movie pass. Interested adolescents or their parents are encouraged to logon to our website at www.menzies.edu.au/topendcohort or call Belinda on 89228701 for more information.