Published Wednesday, 11 July, 2007 at 03:37 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Health survey shows one in five Queensland kids are overweight
A new Beattie Government child health survey has found more than one in five Queensland children are overweight or obese, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
Mr Robertson said the Healthy Kids Queensland Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey was the first study of child health in Queensland since a national survey in 1995.
“The survey shows that Queensland – like the rest of Australia – is experiencing an epidemic of unhealthy weight and obesity among children,” he said.
“Overall, 21% of Queensland children aged 5 – 17 years are overweight or obese; including 19.5% of boys and 22.7% of girls.
“However, generally obesity rates in Queensland children were about 3% lower than in kids in New South Wales and Western Australia where comparable surveys have been done.”
Mr Robertson said he was concerned by the rates of obesity in children and the impact on their future health.
“We know that excess weight is now the main cause of preventable chronic disease in Queensland,” he said.
“Overweight and obesity contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, arthritis and some mental health problems.”
Mr Robertson said among the survey’s key findings:
• There are more severely obese children and young people today than 20 years ago.
• Children are not eating enough fruit and vegetables with half of the sample consuming less than one serve of vegetables a day;
• Fewer than one in six boys, and one in 15 girls, reported doing at least one hour of moderate physical activity everyday in the week;
• Many children had inadequate intakes of iron and calcium; too many weren’t drinking enough milk, too many drank soft drink; and too many ate fatty and sugary snack foods; and
• Overall intakes of saturated fat were 45% higher than levels recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Mr Robertson said the Healthy Kids Queensland survey was conducted for Queensland Health by the University of Queensland and measures the nutrition, physical activity and weight among school-aged children in 2006.
In total, 3,691 children attending Years 1, 5 and 10 from 72 government and non-government schools across Queensland participated in the survey.
The survey is one of the initiatives promoting healthier lifestyles to emerge from the Beattie Government’s 2006 Obesity Summit.
“The Government is addressing childhood obesity through a range of measures including our Eat Well Be Active – Healthy Kids for Life Action Plan to promote healthy weight in children and young people through physical activity and nutrition initiatives,” he said.
“Our Go for 2 & 5 awareness campaign is achieving results by encouraging Queenslanders to increase their fruit and vegetable consumption by at least one serve a day.
“Queensland Health is also working with Education Queensland through our Smarter Choices: Healthy Food and Drink Supply for Queensland Schools to ensure children have access to healthy food and drink at schools.
“Its estimated this program has already resulted in the removal of 8000 litres of soft drink from schools each week.
“The Queensland Government is also leading by example with increased availability of high nutritional food for staff and visitors at all Queensland Health hospitals.”
Mr Robertson said a copy of the Healthy Kids Queensland Survey is available under What’s New at www.health.qld.gov.au
11 July, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680
Mr Robertson said the Healthy Kids Queensland Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey was the first study of child health in Queensland since a national survey in 1995.
“The survey shows that Queensland – like the rest of Australia – is experiencing an epidemic of unhealthy weight and obesity among children,” he said.
“Overall, 21% of Queensland children aged 5 – 17 years are overweight or obese; including 19.5% of boys and 22.7% of girls.
“However, generally obesity rates in Queensland children were about 3% lower than in kids in New South Wales and Western Australia where comparable surveys have been done.”
Mr Robertson said he was concerned by the rates of obesity in children and the impact on their future health.
“We know that excess weight is now the main cause of preventable chronic disease in Queensland,” he said.
“Overweight and obesity contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, arthritis and some mental health problems.”
Mr Robertson said among the survey’s key findings:
• There are more severely obese children and young people today than 20 years ago.
• Children are not eating enough fruit and vegetables with half of the sample consuming less than one serve of vegetables a day;
• Fewer than one in six boys, and one in 15 girls, reported doing at least one hour of moderate physical activity everyday in the week;
• Many children had inadequate intakes of iron and calcium; too many weren’t drinking enough milk, too many drank soft drink; and too many ate fatty and sugary snack foods; and
• Overall intakes of saturated fat were 45% higher than levels recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Mr Robertson said the Healthy Kids Queensland survey was conducted for Queensland Health by the University of Queensland and measures the nutrition, physical activity and weight among school-aged children in 2006.
In total, 3,691 children attending Years 1, 5 and 10 from 72 government and non-government schools across Queensland participated in the survey.
The survey is one of the initiatives promoting healthier lifestyles to emerge from the Beattie Government’s 2006 Obesity Summit.
“The Government is addressing childhood obesity through a range of measures including our Eat Well Be Active – Healthy Kids for Life Action Plan to promote healthy weight in children and young people through physical activity and nutrition initiatives,” he said.
“Our Go for 2 & 5 awareness campaign is achieving results by encouraging Queenslanders to increase their fruit and vegetable consumption by at least one serve a day.
“Queensland Health is also working with Education Queensland through our Smarter Choices: Healthy Food and Drink Supply for Queensland Schools to ensure children have access to healthy food and drink at schools.
“Its estimated this program has already resulted in the removal of 8000 litres of soft drink from schools each week.
“The Queensland Government is also leading by example with increased availability of high nutritional food for staff and visitors at all Queensland Health hospitals.”
Mr Robertson said a copy of the Healthy Kids Queensland Survey is available under What’s New at www.health.qld.gov.au
11 July, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680