Australia's GenHEART project tackles childhood obesity with bold new trials

Australia’s top child health researchers have launched GenHEART, a ten-year project to combat the nation’s obesity crisis. The initiative targets heart health, diet, exercise, and sleep in young people. It aims to reduce cardiometabolic diseases by intervening early in life. GenHEART is led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI). The programme will begin in 2027 with four large-scale clinical trials. Each trial focuses on a different aspect of preventing heart and metabolic conditions.

One trial, GenMOVE, will restructure school PE lessons to prioritise strength training and muscle growth. Another, GenSLEEP, tests whether shifting children’s bedtimes earlier by 30 minutes can curb weight gain and boost mental wellbeing. GenPRESSURE will introduce blood pressure checks in primary schools to detect hypertension risks sooner. Meanwhile, GenWEIGHT explores how weight-loss medications for obese parents might improve household eating habits. The project draws on the Generation Australia platform, combining data from Generation Victoria and Western Australia’s ORIGINS study. Experts from cardiometabolic health, nutrition, behavioural science, sleep medicine, and health economics are collaborating to address multiple risk factors at once.

GenHEART seeks to move beyond traditional prevention methods by tackling several health risks together on a broad scale. The findings could shape future policies for reducing obesity and related diseases in Australian children.