1970 British Cohort Study Age 10 Sweep – Medical assessment

Throughout the 50th year of the 1970 British Cohort Study, we’ll be highlighting interesting features of the survey design, delving deeper into the questionnaires and pulling out descriptive statistics from the data.

The Age 10 Sweep included measures of height, weight, head circumference, blood pressure, pulse, vision and hearing. Most of these measures were then repeated at age 16 and several were repeated in the Age 46 Sweep. This allows researchers to study trajectories of health from childhood into adulthood and how these are affected by other circumstances and behaviours throughout life.

Study members were also asked to complete a range of coordination tasks as part of the Age 10 Sweep, some of which were repeated at Age 46, such as standing on one leg for 30 seconds. Scientists have found this test to be a powerful predictor of future health risks. 63% managed to stand on one leg for 30 seconds at age 10 and 87% at age 46.

Find out more about the BCS70 Age 10 Sweep.