About REACH
Doctors and researchers often use BMI (a measure of weight for height) to check whether children are a healthy size, but BMI gets this wrong for many children. REACH (Evaluating Anthropometry for Children’s Health) is my UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship at Sheffield Hallam University. It aims to find better ways to measure children’s bodies and health.
In our main study, that is due to kick off in September 2027 will seek to recruit and measure 400 children from across Sheffield once a year between the ages of 3 and 10. To try and make sure that each visit needs works for the children taking part we are wanting to talk to children, parents and key professional (those work with or on the behalf of children) about our plans and redesign them with their ideas.
Launching Little Bodies, Big Voices
REACH: Little Bodies, Big Voices launches this autumn across South Yorkshire. Children, their families and professionals will help us design those visits. I am leading the study with Dr Christina Tatham at the University of Sheffield.
Why children’s voices matter
Body measurement asks a lot of children. They stand still for scans, lie in scanners, wear fitted clothing and sometimes give a fingertip blood sample. A method can be accurate on paper and still fail if children find it frightening, boring or uncomfortable.
We want to know what makes a visit feel safe, fun and worth coming back to, year after year.
This matters most for the families research often misses. We are working with community groups to reach children from a wide range of body sizes, social backgrounds and ethnicities.
What happens in the workshops
We are running co-design workshops, in person and online, with three groups:
- Children aged 3 to 10, through play, drawing, making and talking
- Parents and carers, who know what helps their children feel comfortable
- Professionals from practice, policy and research
Together we will explore:
- how families would like to hear about and join the study
- which measurement methods children find acceptable, and how to explain them
- what the measurement space should look and feel like
- how to thank families for their time
- how families would like their data handled and shared
Participants will be invited to join a REACH advisory panel, which will advise us throughout the fellowship.
How to take part
We are recruiting now and would love to hear from:
- families with children aged 3 to 10
- professionals working in child health, education, community services or research
- community groups, schools and nurseries who could help us reach families
Adults will receive a shopping voucher to thank them for their time, and children will receive a certificate, a sticker and a gift.
Every child and adult is welcome, whatever their size, shape or background. We are still finalising the locations and times of the workshops. However in the meantime, if you would like more information please register your interest here or email a.bullas@shu.ac.uk.
The study has full ethical approval. Please share this with any families or groups who might like to take part.
More information can be found here: https://research.shu.ac.uk/shusize/reach-little-bodies-big-voices/