Nutrition and physical activity behaviours among Mäori, Pacific and NZ European children: identifying opportunities for population‐based interventions

Abstract

Objectives:To describe how the prevalences of nutrition and physical activity behaviours vary by ethnicity, while controlling for other socio‐demographic characteristics, and to identify appropriate points of intervention for defined ethnic populations of New Zealand children. Methods:Secondary data analysis of the 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey. Results:Few ethnic differences were significant for fruit and vegetable consumption and indicators of physical activity. Where ethnic differences in physical activity were significant, Mäori children and Pacific children were more active than New Zealand European/Other (NZEO) children. Pacific children and Mäori children were significantly more likely to skip meals than NZEO children. Pacific children and Mäori children were significantly more likely to buy some/most of the food they consumed at school from the tuckshop or dairy while NZEO children were more likely to bring their school food only from home. Likewise, Pacific children and Mäori children were significantly more likely to be high consumers of some fatty and sugary foods than NZEO children. Conclusions and Implications:Meal skipping and purchasing food away from home were common for Mäori children and Pacific children; school‐based programs that aim to improve access to and subsidise the price of healthy foods, including breakfast, could greatly benefit Mäori and Pacific students. Efforts to improve fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity should be more universally applied and made culturally appropriate for all children.

Dietary intakes of Pacific, Māori, Asian and European adolescents: the Auckland High School Heart Survey

“…Among adults, 5,6 and observed in this study, compared to Europeans, Pacific Islanders had more servings of eggs, bread and chicken per month and fewer servings of cheese, milk and breakfast cereal per month. Consistent with our findings, the 2002/03 16 and 2006/07 17 New Zealand Health Surveys found that, compared to Europeans, Pacific Islanders were less likely to consume three or more daily servings of vegetables, and the CNS02 found that, compared to NZEO children, a lower percentage of Pacific children ate breakfast cereal daily 3 and Pacific Islanders were more likely to skip breakfast 18 . The Pacific OPIC study showed that in 2005, 58% of Pacific males and 61% of Pacific females consumed at least two daily servings of fruit (unadjusted for energy and age), compared with 68% of European males and 73% of European females 8 .…”

Socio-economic differences in eating-related attitudes, behaviours and environments of adolescents

“…One possible explanation for this inconsistency may be reflected in sociocultural factors influencing fruit and vegetable consumption. Previous research in New Zealand has reported higher fruit and vegetable consumption among Pacific children and Māori children, independent of socio-economic position (31) . The lack of association may also reflect recent initiatives targeting obesity prevention in more deprived areas in New Zealand.…”

Dieting status influences associations between dietary patterns and body composition in adolescents: a cross-sectional study

“…Model one was adjusted for age only. As sex [21], SES [22] and ethnicity [23] have been found to be associated with food choice, model two included these factors. Model two was repeated using different individual measures of deprivation, including NZDep06, household crowding and car ownership.…”