Dr Tom Cuddihy

Research interests

Research interests involve investigation of factors, which feature the links between physical activity and health, the promotion of wellness across the lifespan, the health effects of differential methods of accumulating physical activity and quality physical education programs for children and youth. Tom has a particular interest in investigating ways of monitoring physical activity in natural settings. These may include the use of techniques such as questionnaires and/or motion analysers, which range from simple pedometers to more complex techniques such as three-dimensional tools and doubly labelled water.

Project highlights

• Adolescent girls physical activity and growth patterns and skeletal health.

Research summary: This research is a three-year longitudinal study of these factors in a cohort of adolescent girls as they aged from either Year 8 or Year 10. Patterns of self reported physical activity, psychosocial indicators, growth and skeletal health as measured by DEXA were dependent variables in this study. Predictor variables of levels of physical activity engagement and links between psychosocial determinants, patterns of physical activity and skeletal health are currently being examined.

Publications: Several conference presentations have been made with regards to this project. These have been at an international and national level, including Sports Medicine Australia Sydney Conference, ACHPER Biennial Conference and the International Conference of Physical Activity and Sports Science in Hong Kong 2000.

• Short bursts versus continuous methods of accumulating physical activity in a community setting

Research Summary: This study examined the physiological health effects for adults of gaining the ACSM recommendation of an additional quantity of 30 minutes of almost daily moderate physical activity above the requirements of a normally sedentary lifestyle. Interesting results included the finding that accumulating equivolumes of 10-11 MET-hours of moderate physical activity either by continuous or “short bursts” resulted in small gains in cardio-vascular fitness (5% – 6%) after a training period of 8 weeks. This finding and other metabolic fitness benefits indicate that this area of investigation is rich for subsequent research and manipulation to determine which differential methods of physical activity result in greater program adherence and health benefits.

Publications: These findings were presented at the 6th International Congress of Behavioural Medicine and the abstracts may be found in the International Journal of Behavioural Medicine, Volume 7, Supplement 1, 2000. The actual references for the presentations are

• Taylor, L., Cuddihy, T & Macfarlane, D. (2000). A comparison of the health benefits of accumulated and continuous physical activity programs for sedentary adults. International Journal of Behavioural Medicine, Volume 7, Supplement 1, p107.
• Taylor, L., Cuddihy, T & Macfarlane, D. (2000). Exercise adherence and self-efficacy differences in adults following completion of either an accumulated or continuous physical activity program. International Journal of Behavioural Medicine, Volume 7, Supplement 1, p201.

• Wellness: monitoring, intervention and outcomes

Reseach Summaries: This work includes the assessment of workplace health education interventions in a variety of contexts. Some of this work is conducted in association with the Queensland Teachers Union Health Society, who are the owners of one intervention package, the Healthtrac package. Healthtrac is a serialised health management program which provides people with information and guidelines on how to improve their health and well-being via personalised letters, self-care booklets, newsletters and a series of guidebooks. Two postgraduate students (one doctoral and another at Masters level) are currently working on extensive data sets in conjunction with Healthtrac.

Other activities under this banner include research into the effects of a specific University coursework unit on aspects of student quality of life, and how such coursework is associated with the capacity to change unwanted and unhealthy lifestyle behaviours.