Child Nutrition Survey Welcome But Adult Data Needed

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 09 Oct 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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The largest nationwide survey of children's diet and physical activity in more than a decade has found child obesity has stalled. But according to dietitians, similar data is urgently needed on adults to explain why 25 to 30 per cent more adults are overweight or obese, compared with children.

DAA Executive Director Claire Hewat said: 'Our food supply is radically different to 1995, when adults were last surveyed. We need to know why almost two in three adult Australians are overweight and obese, so we can address this. We desperately need a similar survey of adults.'

But she said the DAA welcomed the findings from the Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey which would help guide work in addressing health concerns in children.

The children's survey collected data on more than 4,400 Australian children and their parents. It found rates of childhood overweigh and obesity have stabilised in the past decade. But the 2007 survey found 23 per cent of two to 16 year olds are either overweight or obese.

Ms Hewat said that while these figure are still too high, talk of an 'obesity epidemic' in children was not helpful and could lead to poorly-balanced diets among children.

'Not all kids are getting fatter and this survey showed that 5 per cent are underweight. Rather than focus on weight problems and an 'obesity crisis', which can negatively impact on body image and affect what kids eat, we need to turn our focus to a healthy lifestyle,' said Ms Hewat.

The survey found children are eating too much saturated fat, salt and sugar, and not enough fruit and vegetables. It also found 31 per cent did not meet the physical activity guidelines of at least an hour of moderate to vigorous exercise.

'We need to focus our efforts on children at the highest risk, such as those kids living in lower income areas. Research shows children from lower socioeconomic areas have poorer diets and are more likely to be overweight or obese, compared with those living in wealthier areas,' said Ms Hewat.

According to research from the Hunter region of NSW, 34 per cent of children in low socioeconomic areas are overweight or obese, compared with 22 per cent of those from high socioeconomic areas.

'Overweight and obese kids have an increased risk of becoming obese adults. And we know that carrying excess weight is linked with a greater risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes - conditions that are already straining our health system and costing the Government big dollars,' said Ms Hewat.

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) is the professional body representing dietitians nationally. Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) is the only national credential recognised by the Australian Government, Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs and most private health funds as the quality standard for nutrition and dietetics services in Australia.

Dietitians Association of Australia