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
26
26
13
|
| 2021 |
Open access
69
62
13
|
| 2021 |
Open access
15
17
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
58
57
194
|
| 2019 |
Open access
255
238
340
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2020 |
2
|
| 2009 |
|
| 2008 |
|
| 2008 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
3
2
|
| 2025 |
Open access
2
|
| 2025 |
Open access
3
2
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
4
2
26
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
1
2
|
| 2024 |
Open access
47
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
1
1
203
|
| 2024 |
Open access
9
|
| 2024 |
Open access
38
37
462
|
| 2024 |
1
1
19
|
| 2024 |
Open access
15
9
64
|
| 2024 |
Open access
6
5
5
|
| 2024 |
Open access
2
2
1
|
| 2024 |
34
|
| 2024 |
5
4
55
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2023 |
Open access
4
4
28
|
| 2023 |
Open access
5
6
21
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
17
16
92
|
| 2023 |
Open access
20
16
10
|
| 2023 |
Open access
7
6
|
| 2023 |
Open access
38
41
58
|
| 2023 |
Open access
7
7
3
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
7
|
| 2023 |
Open access
4
3
59
|
| 2023 |
Open access
58
56
192
|
| 2023 |
11
9
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
7
|
| 2023 |
Open access
3
1
|
| 2023 |
2
6
|
| 2023 |
10
7
3
|
| 2023 |
Open access
5
5
167
|
| 2022 |
Open access
7
6
1
|
| 2022 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
20
15
9
|
| 2022 |
Open access
27
25
16
|
| 2022 |
Open access
3
4
3
|
| 2022 |
Open access
37
36
10
|
| 2022 |
30
28
3
|
| 2022 |
Open access
16
12
58
|
| 2022 |
Open access
12
11
6
|
| 2022 |
Open access
5
6
11
|
| 2021 |
Open access
2
2
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
8
5
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
26
26
13
|
| 2021 |
Open access
5
4
|
| 2021 |
Open access
8
9
179
|
| 2021 |
Open access
7
7
|
| 2021 |
Open access
8
12
|
| 2021 |
13
12
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
15
11
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
5
5
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
26
22
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
69
62
13
|
| 2021 |
Open access
15
17
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
1
1
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
24
25
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
10
11
|
| 2021 |
Open access
2
2
48
|
| 2021 |
Open access
11
9
23
|
| 2021 |
Open access
58
57
194
|
| 2021 |
Open access
15
15
2
|
| 2020 |
Open access
5
6
56
|
| 2020 |
Open access
44
41
200
|
| 2020 |
Open access
21
19
1
|
| 2020 |
Open access
37
28
189
|
| 2020 |
Open access
8
6
1
|
| 2020 |
Open access
47
45
11
|
| 2020 |
Open access
25
23
7
|
| 2020 |
Open access
18
18
16
|
| 2020 |
Open access
2
3
3
|
| 2020 |
Open access
3
3
1
|
| 2019 |
Open access
17
17
1
|
| 2019 |
Open access
35
29
20
|
| 2019 |
Open access
42
43
6
|
| 2019 |
Open access
82
75
106
|
| 2019 |
Open access
52
45
13
|
| 2019 |
Open access
2
|
| 2019 |
Open access
255
238
340
|
| 2019 |
Open access
87
88
3
|
| 2019 |
Open access
5
4
2
|
| 2019 |
Open access
15
14
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
129
119
50
|
| 2018 |
Open access
37
21
16
|
| 2018 |
Open access
95
93
20
|
| 2018 |
Open access
91
79
469
|
| 2018 |
Open access
7
7
5
|
| 2018 |
Open access
21
19
1
|
| 2018 |
Open access
338
303
116
|
| 2017 |
Open access
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
23
19
129
|
| 2017 |
Open access
4
3
|
| 2017 |
Open access
16
15
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
212
195
111
|
| 2017 |
Open access
20
19
253
|
| 2016 |
Open access
31
30
|
| 2016 |
Open access
20
21
5
|
| 2016 |
Open access
384
353
28
|
| 2016 |
48
42
6
|
| 2015 |
Open access
22
8
5
|
| 2015 |
|
| 2014 |
Open access
15
12
|
| 2014 |
38
37
|
| 2014 |
Open access
33
27
|
| 2014 |
Open access
326
301
|
| 2013 |
Open access
51
50
|
| 2013 |
84
76
|
| 2013 |
Open access
17
54
|
| 2013 |
24
19
|
| 2012 |
22
21
|
| 2012 |
Open access
6
6
|
| 2012 |
16
16
|
| 2012 |
Open access
39
32
|
| 2011 |
Open access
192
170
|
| 2011 |
180
162
|
| 2011 |
Open access
121
101
|
| 2011 |
237
223
|
| 2010 |
18
16
|
| 2010 |
Maher, CA, Tomkinson, GR, Olds, TS & Ferrar, KE 2010, 'Trends in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Australia between 1985 and 2008', International Journal of Obesity. |
| 2010 |
10
10
|
| 2010 |
58
48
|
| 2010 |
14
11
|
| 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 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 |
|---|---|
| Associations between handgrip muscle function and match performance among Australian rules football athletes | Current |
| Examining athletes' rehabilitation journeys 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 |
| 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 |
