Too many Australian children have an unhealthy lifestyle

Oct 6 2008

A survey on the lifestyle of Australian children has found big changes need to be made if many are to avoid health problems later on in life.

The comprehensive survey of Australian children's diet and activity habits paints a picture of a generation of children with some eating a range of healthy foods who are on the whole lean and active, while many others eat the wrong types of food and spend too much in front of a TV or computer screen.

The 2007 Australian Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity survey, led by a team of researchers from the CSIRO and University of South Australia (UniSA) wanted to find out the links between diet, activity and excess weight gain.

In order to do this they monitored children's food and nutrient intake; physical activity levels; and the weight, height and waist circumference of a sample of children aged 2-16 years randomly selected from across Australia.

A total of 4,487 children took part, 50% boys and 50% girls, divided into age groups:- 2-3 years, 4-8 years, 9-13 years and 14-16 years.

Of the children surveyed 72% were found to be at a healthy weight; 17% were classified as overweight; 6% were obese; and 5% were found to be underweight.

According to Professor Tim Olds, about one quarter of the children surveyed were overweight or obese and while this number has not increased over the last decade or so, he says it still remains far too high.

Only 69% of the children met the National Physical Activity Guidelines of at least one hour of moderate to vigorous activity each day.

Professor Olds says Australian children spend large amounts of time, as much as 3-4 hours a day on average, in front of a screen of some sort - TV, computer or video game console and these sedentary behaviours need to be changed to activities which get children moving.

Dr. Jane Bowen of the CSIRO's 'Preventative Health National Research Flagship' says since the previous surveys there have been some big changes in the Australian way of life and many children do not eating enough nutritious food, which means their diet lacks the vitamins and minerals needed during their growth years.

Dr. Bowen says unfortunately fruit, vegetables and dairy foods are being replaced by foods high in kilojoules, salt and saturated fat which are the dietary habits linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease in adults.

The Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia, recommends an intake of foods from each of the five main food groups, fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat and meat alternatives and cereals.

Professor Lynne Cobiac from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Flinders University, says the results for teenage girls are particularly worrying as a number of teenage girls appear to be getting insufficient amounts of calcium from foods.

Dr. Bowen says the survey involved more than 4,400 interviews with children aged 2 to 16 years and their parents and it revealed that 80% of 14 to 16 year old girls did not consume the recommended amounts of calcium and are also doing the least amount of physical activity - two factors - which in combination puts them at risk of developing weak bones as they grow older.

Dr. Bowen says the information from the survey is essential because it provides the evidence governments and other organisations need to develop programs which promote good nutrition and healthy lifestyles in Australia.