Grant Tomkinson is a Professor of Human Movement and Exercise and Sports Science, and member of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at UniSA.
He is interested in how people’s physical fitness levels relate to their health. Physical fitness describes people's ability to perform physical activity, and it is important for good health and sporting success. He is particularly interested in whether people are more fit today than in the past. He was the first to show that kids’ aerobic performance levels have, in fact, declined worldwide since about 1975 and have been stable since 2000. His research has informed policy nationally and internationally, with contributions to policy in Australia, Canada, ... Read more
About me
Grant Tomkinson is a Professor of Human Movement and Exercise and Sports Science, and member of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at UniSA.
He is interested in how people’s physical fitness levels relate to their health. Physical fitness describes people's ability to perform physical activity, and it is important for good health and sporting success. He is particularly interested in whether people are more fit today than in the past. He was the first to show that kids’ aerobic performance levels have, in fact, declined worldwide since about 1975 and have been stable since 2000. His research has informed policy nationally and internationally, with contributions to policy in Australia, Canada, France, the UK and the U.S., and to the International Olympic Committee’s consensus statement on Fitness and Health of Young People through Sport and Physical Activity. He is a Young Tall Poppy Science Award winner.
He is also an Associate Editor for the Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, an Executive Committee member of Active Healthy Kids Australia, and the Oceania Representative on the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance's Board of Directors.
About me
• Active Healthy Kids Australia (AHKA)
• Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA)
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• Healthy Development Adelaide (HDA)
• International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK)
About me
Doctor of Philosophy University of South Australia
Bachelor of Applied Science University of South Australia
Bachelor of Sports Science The University of New South Wales
• Temporal trends in people's physical fitness levels.
• Links between people's physical fitness levels and their current and future health.
• Australian physical activity report card for children and young people.
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Responsiveness of field-based fitness tests in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis., University of Strathclyde, 08/01/2024 - 30/06/2024
Life on Holidays: Fitness lost, fatness regained?, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2018 - 31/12/2022
• Grip Assessment for Protocol Enhancements (GRAPE) in older adults. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Enhancement Award (R15), 2022–25.
• Life on Holidays: Fitness lost, fatness regained? NHMRC Project Grant, 2018–22.
• Investigating health-related criterion-referenced cut-points among children and youth aged 5–17 years: A systematic review. Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Grant, 2020–21.
• The Great Plains Internet Wellness for Aging Study: The GP I-WAS Project. Great Plains IDeA-Clinical and Translational Research Grant, 2020–21.
• Grounding physiological outcomes, indicators, and measures in evidence. PHAC Grant, 2018.
• Toward a maritime physical habitability standard. Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) of the Department of Defence, 2015–16.
• Active Healthy Kids Australia Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Young People (2015–2018). UniSA Vice Chancellor’s Development Fund, 2015–18.
• Anthropometric Survey of the Royal Australian Navy (ASRAN). Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) of the Department of Defence, 2014–15.
• The effects of military vehicle transit on the physical performance and musculoskeletal health of military personnel. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2014–16.
• Development of encumbered anthropometric protocol. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2014.
• Anthropometric validation study to determine the accuracy and reliably of 3D-scan extracted Australian Warfighter Anthropometric Survey (AWAS) measurements. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2013.
• Australian Warfighter Anthropometric Survey (AWAS). DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2011–12.
• Anthropometric validation study to determine the accuracy and reliably of measurements extracted from a 3D seated or standing whole body scan. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2011.
• Exploratory study of driver workload and ergonomics associated with convoy operations. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2011.
• An anthropometric survey of the ADF population for the optimisation of the design, sizing and inventory of clothing and body armour. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2010.
• Dairy proteins: effects on athletic performance and recovery. Industry Grant: Murray-Goulburn Nutritionals Pty Ltd, 2007–09.
• Use of a laser scanning technique to measure the anthropometric characteristics of rowers competing at the 2007 Australian Rowing Championships. Australian Institute of Sport Discretionary Research Program, 2007.
• Normative data for 12–25 year old Australians: Anthropometry and fitness-performance. Australian Sports Commission, 2007.
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2021 |
Open access
30
27
13
|
| 2021 |
Open access
72
65
13
|
| 2021 |
Open access
16
17
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
66
64
194
|
| 2019 |
Open access
262
241
340
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2020 |
2
|
| 2009 |
|
| 2008 |
|
| 2008 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2025 |
Open access
2
|
| 2025 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
2
2
203
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
7
7
|
| 2025 |
Open access
4
|
| 2025 |
Open access
8
6
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
8
7
26
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
1
2
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
1
47
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
9
|
| 2024 |
Open access
56
52
462
|
| 2024 |
2
1
19
|
| 2024 |
Open access
18
14
64
|
| 2024 |
Open access
8
7
5
|
| 2024 |
Open access
2
3
1
|
| 2024 |
34
|
| 2024 |
Open access
6
4
55
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2023 |
Open access
6
5
28
|
| 2023 |
Open access
6
6
21
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
2
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
21
20
92
|
| 2023 |
Open access
25
22
10
|
| 2023 |
Open access
7
6
|
| 2023 |
Open access
46
47
58
|
| 2023 |
Open access
9
9
3
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
7
|
| 2023 |
Open access
6
5
59
|
| 2023 |
Open access
72
61
192
|
| 2023 |
14
12
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
3
4
7
|
| 2023 |
Open access
4
3
|
| 2023 |
3
1
6
|
| 2023 |
11
8
3
|
| 2023 |
Open access
9
8
167
|
| 2022 |
Open access
8
7
1
|
| 2022 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
21
18
9
|
| 2022 |
Open access
28
28
16
|
| 2022 |
Open access
4
5
3
|
| 2022 |
Open access
38
37
10
|
| 2022 |
32
30
3
|
| 2022 |
Open access
17
13
58
|
| 2022 |
Open access
13
11
6
|
| 2022 |
Open access
6
6
11
|
| 2021 |
Open access
2
2
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
8
6
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
30
27
13
|
| 2021 |
Open access
5
4
|
| 2021 |
Open access
8
9
179
|
| 2021 |
Open access
7
7
|
| 2021 |
Open access
10
12
|
| 2021 |
14
13
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
21
16
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
5
5
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
26
25
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
72
65
13
|
| 2021 |
Open access
16
17
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
1
1
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
27
27
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
11
11
|
| 2021 |
Open access
2
2
48
|
| 2021 |
Open access
11
9
23
|
| 2021 |
Open access
66
64
194
|
| 2021 |
Open access
18
15
2
|
| 2020 |
Open access
5
6
56
|
| 2020 |
Open access
49
45
200
|
| 2020 |
Open access
22
20
1
|
| 2020 |
Open access
40
31
189
|
| 2020 |
Open access
10
7
1
|
| 2020 |
Open access
50
48
11
|
| 2020 |
Open access
25
24
7
|
| 2020 |
Open access
19
19
16
|
| 2020 |
Open access
2
3
3
|
| 2020 |
Open access
3
3
1
|
| 2019 |
Open access
18
18
1
|
| 2019 |
Open access
35
29
20
|
| 2019 |
Open access
45
45
6
|
| 2019 |
Open access
87
80
106
|
| 2019 |
Open access
53
45
13
|
| 2019 |
Open access
2
|
| 2019 |
Open access
262
241
340
|
| 2019 |
Open access
92
91
3
|
| 2019 |
Open access
5
4
2
|
| 2019 |
Open access
17
16
98
|
| 2018 |
2
|
| 2018 |
Open access
7
7
9
|
| 2018 |
5
5
1
|
| 2018 |
Open access
8
5
52
|
| 2018 |
8
8
2
|
| 2018 |
Open access
133
122
50
|
| 2018 |
Open access
38
21
16
|
| 2018 |
Open access
98
93
20
|
| 2018 |
Open access
94
81
469
|
| 2018 |
Open access
7
7
5
|
| 2018 |
Open access
21
19
1
|
| 2018 |
Open access
355
322
116
|
| 2017 |
Open access
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
24
20
129
|
| 2017 |
Open access
4
3
|
| 2017 |
Open access
16
15
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
219
204
111
|
| 2017 |
Open access
21
20
253
|
| 2016 |
Open access
31
30
|
| 2016 |
Open access
20
22
5
|
| 2016 |
Open access
390
358
28
|
| 2016 |
48
42
6
|
| 2015 |
Open access
23
8
5
|
| 2015 |
|
| 2014 |
Open access
15
12
|
| 2014 |
40
39
|
| 2014 |
Open access
33
27
|
| 2014 |
Open access
330
305
|
| 2013 |
Open access
51
50
|
| 2013 |
87
78
|
| 2013 |
Open access
17
55
|
| 2013 |
24
19
|
| 2012 |
22
21
|
| 2012 |
Open access
6
6
|
| 2012 |
16
16
|
| 2012 |
Open access
42
35
|
| 2011 |
Open access
194
173
|
| 2011 |
185
166
|
| 2011 |
Open access
122
104
|
| 2011 |
239
225
|
| 2010 |
18
17
|
| 2010 |
Olds, TS, Ferrar, KE, Maher, CA & Tomkinson, GR 2010, 'Trends in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Australia between 1985 and 2008', International Journal of Obesity. |
| 2010 |
58
48
|
| 2010 |
14
11
|
| 2010 |
10
10
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2009 |
Open access
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2018 |
Open access
|
| 2016 |
Open access
|
| 2015 |
Open access
|
| 2014 |
Open access
|
• Grip Assessment for Protocol Enhancements (GRAPE) in older adults. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Enhancement Award (R15), 2022–25.
• Life on Holidays: Fitness lost, fatness regained? NHMRC Project Grant, 2018–22.
• Investigating health-related criterion-referenced cut-points among children and youth aged 5–17 years: A systematic review. Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Grant, 2020–21.
• The Great Plains Internet Wellness for Aging Study: The GP I-WAS Project. Great Plains IDeA-Clinical and Translational Research Grant, 2020–21.
• Grounding physiological outcomes, indicators, and measures in evidence. PHAC Grant, 2018.
• Toward a maritime physical habitability standard. Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) of the Department of Defence, 2015–16.
• Active Healthy Kids Australia Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Young People (2015–2018). UniSA Vice Chancellor’s Development Fund, 2015–18.
• Anthropometric Survey of the Royal Australian Navy (ASRAN). Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) of the Department of Defence, 2014–15.
• The effects of military vehicle transit on the physical performance and musculoskeletal health of military personnel. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2014–16.
• Development of encumbered anthropometric protocol. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2014.
• Anthropometric validation study to determine the accuracy and reliably of 3D-scan extracted Australian Warfighter Anthropometric Survey (AWAS) measurements. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2013.
• Australian Warfighter Anthropometric Survey (AWAS). DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2011–12.
• Anthropometric validation study to determine the accuracy and reliably of measurements extracted from a 3D seated or standing whole body scan. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2011.
• Exploratory study of driver workload and ergonomics associated with convoy operations. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2011.
• An anthropometric survey of the ADF population for the optimisation of the design, sizing and inventory of clothing and body armour. DSTO of the Department of Defence, 2010.
• Dairy proteins: effects on athletic performance and recovery. Industry Grant: Murray-Goulburn Nutritionals Pty Ltd, 2007–09.
• Use of a laser scanning technique to measure the anthropometric characteristics of rowers competing at the 2007 Australian Rowing Championships. Australian Institute of Sport Discretionary Research Program, 2007.
• Normative data for 12–25 year old Australians: Anthropometry and fitness-performance. Australian Sports Commission, 2007.
Research
• Temporal trends in people's physical fitness levels.
• Links between people's physical fitness levels and their current and future health.
• Australian physical activity report card for children and young people.
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Active Lifestyle and Wellness Association Ghana | GHANA |
| Artois University | FRANCE |
| Auckland University of Technology | NEW ZEALAND |
| Australian Institute of Sport | AUSTRALIA |
| Autonomous University of Chile | CHILE |
| Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | AUSTRALIA |
| Ball State University | UNITED STATES |
| Beijing Sport University | CHINA |
| California Pacific Medical Center | UNITED STATES |
| Cardiff Metropolitan University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Carleton University | CANADA |
| CHEO Research Institute | CANADA |
| Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario | CANADA |
| Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute | CANADA |
| Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute | CANADA |
| Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa | CANADA |
| Concordia University | CANADA |
| Curtin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Deakin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Defence Science and Technology Group | AUSTRALIA |
| Drexel University | UNITED STATES |
| Education University of Hong Kong | HONG KONG |
| Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) | BRAZIL |
| Federal University of Santa Catarina | BRAZIL |
| Flinders Medical Centre | AUSTRALIA |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Government of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center | UNITED STATES |
| Grenoble Alpes University | FRANCE |
| Hartpury College | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Health Canada | CANADA |
| Health Canada Library | CANADA |
| Hong Kong Baptist University | HONG KONG |
| Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation | FRANCE |
| Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Occidente | MEXICO |
| International Christian Univer | JAPAN |
| Juntendo University | JAPAN |
| Kenyatta University | KENYA |
| Klaipeda University | LITHUANIA |
| Korea National Sport University | KOREA, REPUBLIC OF (SOUTH) |
| Laval University (Canada) | CANADA |
| Lithuanian Sports University | LITHUANIA |
| Loughborough University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Marquette University | UNITED STATES |
| McGill University | CANADA |
| McMaster University | CANADA |
| Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare | JAPAN |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Murray Goulburn Co-Operative Ltd | AUSTRALIA |
| National Solidarity Fund for Autonomy (CNSA) | FRANCE |
| Newman University | UNITED STATES |
| NigerianHeart Foundation | NIGERIA |
| Nippon Sport Science University | JAPAN |
| North Dakota State University | UNITED STATES |
| Northumbria University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Ochin | UNITED STATES |
| OCHIN | UNITED STATES |
| Ohio State University | UNITED STATES |
| Ohio University | UNITED STATES |
| Old Dominion University | UNITED STATES |
| Oxford Brookes University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Pablo de Olavide University | SPAIN |
| Palacky University | CZECH REPUBLIC |
| ParticipACTION | CANADA |
| Pedagogical University of Maputo | MOZAMBIQUE |
| Pennington Biomedical Research Center | UNITED STATES |
| Primary Health Tasmania Limited | AUSTRALIA |
| Public Health Agency of Canada | CANADA |
| Public Transport Authority | AUSTRALIA |
| Public transport Victoria | AUSTRALIA |
| Public University of Navarre | SPAIN |
| Queen's University | CANADA |
| Queensland University of Technology | AUSTRALIA |
| Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria | AUSTRALIA |
| Sacred Heart School | UNITED STATES |
| Saitama University | JAPAN |
| Secretaria de Educación del Distrito | COLOMBIA |
| Secretaria de Educación Del Distrito Capital | COLOMBIA |
| Shandong University | CHINA |
| Shanghai Research Institute of Sports Science | CHINA |
| Shanghai University of Sport | CHINA |
| Sorbonne Paris Nord University | FRANCE |
| Sorbonne University (France) | FRANCE |
| Southern Brittany University | FRANCE |
| Stanford University | UNITED STATES |
| Statistics Canada | CANADA |
| Statistics Canada, Ottawa | CANADA |
| Swansea University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Technical University of Liberec | CZECH REPUBLIC |
| The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) | CHINA |
| Tokyo Kasei University | JAPAN |
| Toronto Metropolitan University | CANADA |
| Tufts University | UNITED STATES |
| Turku University Hospital | FINLAND |
| Turun yliopisto | FINLAND |
| Universidad de los Andes | COLOMBIA |
| Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina | BRAZIL |
| Université de Lille | FRANCE |
| Universite Paris Cite | FRANCE |
| Université Sorbonne Paris Nord | FRANCE |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Auckland | NEW ZEALAND |
| University of Bath | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Bergamo | ITALY |
| University of Cadiz | SPAIN |
| University of California | UNITED STATES |
| University of Cambridge | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Cape Town | SOUTH AFRICA |
| University of Castilla-La Mancha | SPAIN |
| University of Clermont Auvergne | FRANCE |
| University of Colorado Denver | UNITED STATES |
| University of Essex | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Exeter | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Granada | SPAIN |
| University of Hong Kong | HONG KONG |
| University of Iowa | UNITED STATES |
| University of Jyvaskyla | FINLAND |
| University of Leicester | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Ljubljana | SLOVENIA |
| University of Los Andes (Colombia) | BOLIVIA |
| University of Macau | MACAU (SAR OF CHINA) |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Michigan | UNITED STATES |
| University of Milan | ITALY |
| University of Montreal | CANADA |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center | UNITED STATES |
| University of New Hampshire Durham | UNITED STATES |
| University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
| University of North Dakota | UNITED STATES |
| University of Northern British Columbia | CANADA |
| University of Ottawa | CANADA |
| University of Oxford | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Pavia | ITALY |
| University of Pittsburgh | UNITED STATES |
| University of Porto | PORTUGAL |
| University of Prince Edward Island | CANADA |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Rennes 1 | FRANCE |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Brittany | FRANCE |
| University of Southern Denmark | DENMARK |
| University of Southern Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Strathclyde | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Tasmania | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Technology Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Texas | UNITED STATES |
| University of the West of Scotland | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Turku | FINLAND |
| University of Verona | ITALY |
| University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Wollongong | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Wolverhampton | UNITED KINGDOM |
| US Department of Agriculture | UNITED STATES |
| VU Medical Centre | NETHERLANDS |
| VU University Medical Center | NETHERLANDS |
| Western Norway University of Applied Sciences | NORWAY |
| Western Sydney University | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Finalist, Tall Poppy AwardAustralian Institute of Policy and Science |
2012 |
Finalist, Tall Poppy AwardAustralian Institute of Policy and Science |
2011 |
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Examining athletes' rehabilitation experiences post-injury | Current |
| International normative reference values for handgrip strength in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years: A systematic review | Current |
| International temporal trends and cross-country comparisons in muscle fitness for children and adolescents | Current |
| Assessment of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Australian children and adolescents: an audit and recommendations for survey questions | Completed |
| Associations between handgrip muscle function and match performance among Australian rules football athletes | Completed |
| Can resistance training change the strength, body composition and self-concept of overweight and obese adolescent males? A randomised controlled trial | Completed |
| The effect of whey growth factor extract on muscle strength and size in recreational resistance trained males | Completed |
| The impact of the mechanical whole-body vibration experienced during motorised military land transit on the physical attributes that underpin dismounted combatant physical performance | Completed |
| The importance of non-game performance indicators to youth basketball performance | Completed |
| Three-dimensional scanning in anthropometry - bringing new techniques and applications to an old science | Completed |
