Childhood obesity figures show cause for concern
20 September 2002
One in 10 primary school children who have a healthy weight progress to being overweight within 3 years, according to the first Australian study of its kind.
Results from the first study to track the weight of individual children for this long are due to be presented to the Public Health Association conference in Adelaide next month.
Researcher Kylie Hesketh, from the Centre for Community Child Health at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, studied more than 1400 children at 24 rural and urban schools in Victoria.
In 1997, when the children were aged between five and 10 years, 15 per cent were overweight and 4 per cent were obese. When checked again in 2000, 20 per cent were overweight and 5 per cent were obese. Of the 1160 children who had a healthy weight in 1997, 124 (11 per cent) had become overweight and 5 (0.4 per cent) had become obese in 2000.
'These are concerning figures,' Ms Hesketh said. 'Not only was there a high prevalence rate of overweight and obesity, but one in 10 children who were a healthy weight the first time around had actually progressed to an unhealthy weight 3 years later.'
Conversely, 55 children who had been overweight or obese had an improved body mass index (BMI) at the second check.
Associate Professor Kate Steinbeck, director of the metabolism and obesity clinic at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, said the one in 10 figure was 'frightening' and underlined the need for longitudinal surveillance.
'The total prevalence of overweight and obese children doubled from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. Now we find that from 1997 to this century one in 10 children have progressed into the unhealthy weight category.'
The Victorian study coincides with the recent NSW Childhood Obesity summit, which called for national longitudinal studies to monitor trends in weight, body fat, nutrition and physical activity.
Last Reviewed: 20 September 2002
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 20/09/002
