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Professor Timothy Olds
Position: Professor Professor Timothy Olds
Division/Portfolio: Division of Health Sciences
School/Unit: School of Health Sciences
Campus: City East Campus
Office: C7-41
Telephone: +61 8 830 21411
Fax:
Email: Timothy_dot_Olds_at_unisa_dot_edu_dot_au
URL for Business Card: http://people.unisa.edu.au/Timothy.Olds

Welcome to my homepage. I hope you find the information you need here. If not, why not send me an email?

Better to walk in darkness than to follow a false light.
Voltaire

Teaching interests

  • Statistics and computer applications in human movement
  • Resistance training: physiology and programming
  • Applied exercise physiology
  • Anthropometry
  • Philosophy of human movement
  • Body image

I teach the following courses

HLTH 3021Resistance Training: Physiology and Programming
HLTH 3023Philosophical and Contemporary Issues in Movement
(This course is not currently being taught)

Professional associations

Vice-President for Exercise Science, Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science (AAESS) 1998-1999

Editor, Kinanthreport, International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) 1997-

To link to the ISAK homepage, click here.

To download the latest Kinanthreport, click here.

Qualifications

BA Hon (Syd)

PhD (Syd)

BSpSc Dist (UNSW)

PhD (UNSW)

Research interests

  • Mathematical modeling of sports performance

  • Anthropometry

  • Evolution of body size and shape

  • Evolution of fitness and fatness in children

  • Children's use of time

Research publications

Olds, T.S. (2002).
Five errors about error.
Journal of Science and Medicine in sport. 5(4), 336-340.

Olds, T.S., & Tomkinson, G.R. (2003).
The ærobic fitness of 9-15 year old South Australian children: norms, evolution and international comparisons.
ACHPER Healthy Lifestyles Journal, 30(3-4), 25-30.

Olds, T.S., Tomkinson, G.R., & Baker, S. (2003).
Fitness differentials between schools: how are they related to school sector?
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 6(3),315-329.

Neville, A., Stewart, A., Olds, T., & Holder, R. (2004).
Are adult physiques geometrically similar? The dangers of allometric scaling using body mass power laws.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 124(2).

Harten, N., & Olds, T.S. (2004).
Patterns of active transport in 9-12 year old Australian children.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (in press).

Olds, T.S., & Dollman, J. (2004).
Are secular declines in children’s ærobic fitness explained by changes in fatness?
Pediatric Exercise Science (in press).

Olds, T.S., Norton, K.I., Craig, N.P., Lowe, E.L.A., Olive, S.C, & Ly S.V. (1995).
The limits of the possible: models of energy supply and demand in cycling.
Australian Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 27(2), 29-33.

Host, C.R., Norton, K.I., Olds, T.S., Lowe, E.L.A., & Mulligan, S.P. (1995).
The effects of altered exercise distribution on immunological measures.
European Journal of Applied Physiology, 72, 157-164.

Whittingham, N., Gore, C.J., Olds, T.S., & Norton, K.I. (1995).
Level Three Instructors’ handbook: Accreditation Courses in Anthropometry.
Canberra: Australian Sports Commission.

Norton, K.I., & Olds, T.S. (Eds.) (1996).
Anthropometrica.
Sydney: UNSW Press.

Hansen, R., Olds, T.S., Richards, D.A., Richards, C.R., & Leelarthaepin, B. (1996).
Infrared thermometry in the diagnosis and treatment of heat exhaustion.
International Journal of Sports Medicine, 17(1), 66-7.

Norton, K.I., Olds, T.S., Dank, S., & Olive S.C. (1996).
Ken and Barbie at life size.
Sex Roles, 34(3/4), 196.

Norton, K.I., Olds, T.S., Ly, S.V., Gore, C.J., & Bowes, D.J. (1997).
The Sports Medicine Australia pre-exercise screening guidelines: Who will be excluded?
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 1, 38-51.

Olds, T.S. (1997).
Sorting out the signal and the noise: mathematical modeling in exercise science. In R. Ballantyne, J. Bain & J. Packers (Eds.).
Reflecting on University teaching: academics’ stories. Canberra: AGPS.

Olds, T.S., Norton, K.I., & Craig, N.P. (1998).
Optimising cycling performance.
Canberra: Australian Sports Commission.

Olds, T.S. (1998).
The mathematics of breaking away and chasing in cycling.
European Journal of Applied Physiology, 77, 492-497.

Olds, T.S., & Norton, K.I. (1998).
Simulating exercise responses: a tool for educating health professionals.
Australian Computers in Education Conference, Adelaide, July, 1998.

Gore, C.J., Olds, T.S., Carter, J.E.L., & Norton, K.I. (1998).
Accreditation in anthropometry: a curriculum guide.
Canberra: Australian Sports Commission.

Olds, T.S., & Norton, K.I. (1999).
Pre-exercise screening (software).
Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Dollman, J., Olds, T.S., Norton, K.I. & Stuart, D.B. (1999).
The evolution of fitness and fatness in 10-11 year old Australian schoolchildren.
Pediatric Exercise Science, 11, 108-121.

Olds, T.S., & Olive, S.C. (1999).
Methodological considerations in the determination of projected frontal area in cyclists.
Journal of Sports Sciences, 17, 335-345.
To download a PDF version of this paper (76kB), click here.

Olds, T.S., Dollman, J., Norton, K.I., & Harten, N.R. (1999).
A century of growth in Australian children. New Millennium and Sports Vision.
Proceedings of the '99 Seoul International Sport Science Congress, pp. 805-826. Seoul: Korean Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Norton, K.I., Craig, N.P., & Olds, T.S. (1999).
The evolution of Australian football.
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2(4), 389-404.

Olds, T.S., & Norton, K.I. (1999).
Pre-exercise health screening guide.
Champaing, IL: Human Kinetics.

Parisotto, R., Gore C.J., Hahn, A.G., Ashenden, M.A., Olds, T.S., Martin, D.T., Pyne, D.B., Gawthorn, K., & C Brugnara, C. (2000).
Reticulocyte parameters as potential discriminators of rHuEPO abuse in elite athletes.
International Journal of Sports Medicine, 21, 471-479.

Olds, T.S., & Norton, K.I. (2000).
LifeSize: Education software for body composition analysis.
Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Tomkinson, G.R., & Olds, T.S. (2000).
Physiological correlates of bilateral symmetry in humans.
International Journal of Sports Medicine, 21, 545-550.
To download a PDF version of this paper (120kB), click here.

Norton, K.I., Olds, T.S., & Dollman, J. (Eds.) (2000).
Kinanthropometry VI. Proceedings of the Sixth Scientific Conference of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Adelaide, 13-16 October, 1998.
Adelaide: ISAK.

Olds, T.S., & Norton, K.I. (2000).
The evolution of the size and shape of athletes: causes and consequences.
In Kinanthropometry VI. Proceedings of the Sixth Scientific Conference of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Adelaide, 13-16 October, 1998. Adelaide: ISAK, pp. 3-36.

Olds, T.S., Dollman, J., Norton, K.I., & Harten, N.R. (2000).
The evolution of fatness in Australian children between 1985 and 1997.
In Kinanthropometry VI. Proceedings of the Sixth Scientific Conference of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Adelaide, 13-16 October, 1998.Adelaide: ISAK, pp. 141-166.

Tomkinson, G.R., Olds, T.S., & Carter, J.E.L. (2000).
The anthropometry of desire: the body size and shape of female shop mannequins.
In Kinanthropometry VI. Proceedings of the Sixth Scientific Conference of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Adelaide, 13-16 October, 1998. Adelaide: ISAK, 233-252.

Olds, T.S., Dollman, J., Norton, K., & Harten, N.R. (2001).
A century of growth in Australian children.
Medicine and Sport Science, 23, 87-102.

Olds, T.S. (2001).
100 years of sporting bodies.
Sport and Politic: the 2001 Seoul International Sport Science Congress , Seoul, Korea, 23-25 August, KAHPERD.

Ridley, K., Dollman, J., & Olds, T. (2001).
Development and validation of a Computer Delivered Physical Activity Questionnaire (CDPAQ) for children.
Pediatric Exercise Science, 13(1), 35-46.

Olds, T.S. (2001).
The evolution of physique in male Rugby Union players in the twentieth century.
Journal of Sports Sciences, 19, 253-262.
To download a PDF version of this paper (196kB), click here.

Olds, T.S. (2001).
Modeling human locomotion: applications to cycling.
Sports Medicine, 31(7), 487-509.
To download a PDF version of this paper (137kB), click here.

Ridley, K., & Olds, T.S. (2001).
Video centre games: energy cost and children’s behaviour.
Pediatric Exercise Science,13, 413-421.
To download a PDF version of this paper (169kB), click here.

Olds, T.S. (2001).
Anthropometry and body image.In R. Eston & T. Reilly (Eds.).
Kinanthropometry and exercise physiology laboratory manual: tests, procedures and data (pp. 221-235). London: Routledge.

Bird, S., Balmer, J., Olds, T.S., & Davison, R.C.R. (2001).
Differences between the sexes and age-related changes in orienteering speed.
Journal of Sports Sciences, 19, 243-252.

Olds, T.S., & Harten, N.R. (2001).
One hundred years of growth: the evolution of height, mass, and body composition in Australian children: 1899-1999.
Human Biology, 73(5), 727-738.

Norton, K.I., & Olds, T.S. (2001).
Morphological evolution of athletes over the 20th century: causes and consequences.
Sports Medicine, 31(11), 763-783.

Olds, T.S. (2003).
Extreme physiques.
In J.H. de Ridder & T.S. Olds (Eds.). Kinanthropometry 7 (pp. 9-34). Potchefstroom: Potchefstroom University of CHE.

Tomkinson, G.R., Leger, L., Olds, T.S., & Cazorla, G.(2003).
Secular trends in the aerobic performance of children. An analysis of 55 shuttle run tests from 11 countries.
Sports Medicine, 33(4),385-400.

Harten, N.R., Olds, T.S., Martin, M., & Dollman, J. (2003).
The effects of physical environment (proximity to parks and fast-food restaurants) and socio-economic status on subcutaneous body fat, diet and physical activity in 10-12 year-old Australian children.
In J.H. de Ridder & T.S. Olds (Eds.). Kinanthropometry 7 (pp. 136-154). Potchefstroom: Potchefstroom University of CHE.

Tomkinson, G.R., & Olds, T.S. (2003).
Secular trends in physical performance of Australian children: Evidence from the Talent Search program.
Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 43:90-98.

de Ridder, J.H., & Olds, T.S. (2003).
Kinanthropometry 7.
Potchefstroom: Potchefstroom University of CHE.

Olds, T.S. (2004).
The rise and fall of anthropometry.
Journal of Sports Sciences (in press).

Olds, T.S., & Dollman, J. (2004).
Are secular declines in children’s ærobic fitness explained by changes in fatness?
Pediatric Exercise Science (in press).

Expertise for Media Contact

I am able to provide media comment in the following areas of expertise:

Discipline: Exercise Science

  • Body size and shape
  • Children: fitness, fatness and physical activity
  • Body image
  • Mathematical modeling of sports
  • Exercise science

Research Degree Supervisor

Since obtaining my PhD in 1997, I have been involved in research into body image, anthropometry, mathematical modeling of cycling and the evolution of the fitness and fatness of children. I currently have 3 PhD students.

Current Projects:

 Playspace
 This project is looking at how the amount and configuration of playspaces affects children's physical activity.
The energy cost of children's activities
 This project aims to develop a multimedia activity recall diary for children, and to measure the child-specific energy costs of a wide range of activities.
The evolution of fitness and fatness in children
 There is strong evidence that children are becoming fatter and less fit in many Western countries. This project is concerned with gathering and analysing all available data on changes in the fitness and fatness of children over the last 100 years.



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