Cross-sectional changes in weight status and weight related behaviors among Australian children and Australian Indigenous children between 2010 and 2015

Abstract

Background Since 2006 there has been substantial long-term investment in school-based child obesity prevention programs in New South Wales (Australia). Whether these programs have led to population level improvements in children’s weight status and weight-related behaviors are yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to describe changes in children’s weight status and weight-related behaviors, including Indigenous children, who are at greater risk of poorer health outcomes than non-Indigenous children. Methods Representative cross-sectional population surveys conducted in 2010 and 2015 among children age 5–16 years (n = 15,613). Objective measurements included height, weight, waist circumference, cardiorespiratory fitness, and fundamental movement skills. Indigenous status and indicators of weight-related behavior (i.e., diet, physical activity, school travel, screen-time) were measured by questionnaire with parents responding for children age <10 years and self-report by children age ≥10 years. Results The prevalences of overweight/obesity, obesity and abdominal obesity were higher in 2015, than 2010, and higher among Indigenous than non-Indigenous children at both timepoints. There were some small positive changes towards healthier weight-related behaviors between surveys among all children, but many unhealthy weight-related behaviors remain highly prevalent. The magnitude of changes and the 2015 prevalences of weight-related behaviors were generally similar for Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. Conclusions Schools play an important role in health promotion, but our findings suggest the current approaches need re-thinking. Upstream factors that shape weight-related behaviors such as the regulation of the food industry and food environment, urban, neighborhood and public transport planning must be including in solutions to ensure populations can eat healthily and be physical active.

Elements of Effective Population Surveillance Systems for Monitoring Obesity in School Aged Children

“…The data collected throughout the SPANS series made a substantial contribution to the evidence-base for different policy areas and the development of programs. The trends in in overweight and obesity highlight that children from low socioeconomic status (SES) areas (especially adolescents) [ 12 ], cultural and linguistically diverse language backgrounds [ 13 ], and of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island heritage [ 14 ] would benefit from targeted interventions or programs. In 2010, it was found that one in five children entering the first year of school had overweight and obesity [ 15 ], highlighting that weight-related behaviours are established in the child’s home environment.…”

Adolescent food environment and wellbeing: understanding attitudes and food choice predictors in different learning environments

“…The Queensland Heath report found that in 2011-2012 teenagers (aged 14-18 years) derived 45% of daily total energy from unhealthy foods and 32% consumed snack food daily (Queensland Health 2018). Similarly Hardy et al (2019) found that in 2015, 25% of children had a high junk food intake;…”

“…Australia's Health 2016 report found that 97% of children did not eat the recommended daily servings of vegetables and 30% did not eat the recommended daily servings of fruit (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2016). Furthermore, 26% of children (aged 5-14) and 37% of young people (aged 15-24) were overweight or obese (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2016), with these trends continuing to increase particularly for Indigenous children (Hardy et al 2019). Most alarmingly, discretionary foods (often energy rich food and drinks high in saturated fats, sugars and/or salt) contributed 39% of energy intake for children and young people during 2011-2012 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2016).…”

“…Wales reported the highest level of junk food intake (Hardy et al 2019). Hartley et al (2011) found that home food behaviours (frequency of eating family meals, breakfast consumption and vegetables served) as well as parent food consumption were associated with healthy eating behaviours in children, however only parent eating behaviour predicted child obesity.…”

“…This would therefore necessitate a school wide intervention, which the canteen convenors suggested as a possible improvement. With limited long-term nutritional changes observed by school food and health programs to date (Hardy et al 2019), shifting the focus and messaging to increasing food self-efficacy (by facilitating positive experiences and social modelling) at schools may result in better dietary choices as a secondary outcome. Self-efficacy beliefs determine whether health behaviour change will be instigated, how much effort will be applied, and as failures are encountered, how long it will be sustained (Bandura 1994;Conner & Norman 2005).…”