Introduction

Providing children with positive foundations for future health,

development and well being, allows the child to reach their full
potential, children

who

are

provided

with

poor

foundations

experience an increased chance of adverse outcomes not only for

themselves but also for their succeeding generations. (Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), 2012) This project has been
designed to investigate the social issues and changes, which
contribute to children being overweight or obese and promote these
through health literacy. The research was performed over numerous
weeks through primary and secondary sources and complied into
the

report

below.

The report has been used as a starting point for the design of a
multimedia package to be used to provide children with positive
nutritional foundations for themselves and their families through
educational settings.

How is Australia affected by Obesity?

According to the 2007-08 ABS National Health Survey over 23% of
Australian children aged 5-14 were estimated to be overweight or
obese. (AIHW, 2012) Being overweight or obese increases a childs
risk of developing asthma, type two diabetes, cardiovascular
condition and certain cancers. (AIHW, 2012)

Not only are there

physical health problems, children who are obese or overweight are

often discriminated and victimised by their peers. (AIHW, 2012)
They discuss of children living in low socio-economic areas were 1.7
times as likely to be overweight or obese compared to those living in
high socio-economic areas. (AIHW, 2012)

An analysis of the data available on the Australian Bureau of

Statistics website in the 2004 NSW Schools Physical Activity and
Nutrition Survey (SPANS) found that 26% of boys and 24% of girls in
NSW aged 5-16 years were overweight or obese, compared with
11% of all young people aged 7-16 years in 1985. (ABS, 2007) It is
also important to note obesity is not only Australian based but also
that in 2013; 42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight
or

obese.

Once

considered

high-income

country

problem,

overweight and obesity is now on the rise in low- and middle-income

countries, particularly in urban settings. In developing countries with
emerging economies (classified by the World Bank as lower- and
middle-income

countries)

the

rate

of

increase

of

childhood

overweight and obesity has been more than 30% higher than that of
developed countries. (World Health Organisation, 2015)

What are the Causes of Obesity?

AIHW (2012) discuss that excess weight occurs due to an imbalance
between the amount of energy children are consuming and the
energy they are burning. Among children, healthy eating provides

nutrients and dietary fibre and is crucially important for optimal

growth and development. Research suggests that poor diet among
children might affect specific areas of their physical development,
motor skills and cognitive functioning (Daraganova & Thorton,
2013).
Furthermore, The 2004 SPANS found that there has been a recent
increase in the proportion of children who fulfil the exercise
requirements of moderate to vigorous physical activity according to
the Australian Physical Activity Recommendations for Children and
Young People. Nevertheless, the level of sedentary behaviour for
children is still high. (ABS, 2007) Other statistical data from the ABS
uncovered:

That in the 12 months to April 2006, 63% of children aged 514 years participated in sport, outside of school hours, which
had been organised by a school, club or association. This was
an

increase

of

two

percentage points

in

the rate

of

participation from 2003. (ABS, 2007)

Children spent an average of 20 hours over a school fortnight
in the 12 months to April 2006 watching television, videos or
DVDs and also spent an average of eight hours playing
electronic or computer games. (ABS, 2007)

Due to the increase in physical activity in children discussed above

and the unchanged amount of children with obesity the preceding

research will focus on dietary requirements and the strategies that

have been implemented to address childrens diets.

What does the research say about childrens

dietary intake?
The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) Annual
statistical report undertaken in 2013 investigated the consumption
of fruit, vegetables and energy-dense foods and factors that
influence these eating behaviours.

The report found that based on children eating both fruit and
vegetables combined, overall 40-48% of children aged 2-7 years
were meeting the recommendations, broken down to 46% at 2-5
years and 48% at 6-7 years. (Daraganova & Thorton, 2013).

As

they grew older, fewer children were eating enough fruit and
vegetables (only 17% and 24% of children aged 8-9 and 10-11 years
respectively). (Daraganova & Thorton, 2013). It was also found that
90% of children between the ages of 2 and 7 years ate the
recommended servings of fruit daily, which dropped to just 55%
among

those

aged

10-11

years.

(Daraganova

&

Thorton,

2013). Vegetable consumption was a more pressing concern, with

fewer than half of the children aged 2-7 years meeting the

recommended servings of vegetables each day. (Daraganova &

Thorton, 2013).

Statistical information about energy dense foods revealed the most

common type to be sweets such as biscuits, chocolate, lollies etc.
Overall across the age groups no apparent differences were
examined. (Daraganova & Thorton, 2013). However a different trend
was observed for the consumption of non-sweet energy dense foods
such as pies, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages or sausage rolls, hot
chips or French fries. (Daraganova & Thorton, 2013). The proportion
of children eating these foods increased with age from 55% at 2-3
years to 65% at 6-7 years in group 1 and 63% at 4-5 years to 75%
at 10-11 in group 2. (Daraganova & Thorton, 2013).

It was also found that a Mothers' unhealthy lifestyle was a

significant risk factor for children's low fruit and vegetable intake
across all waves of the study. (Daraganova & Thorton, 2013). A
Mother's fruit and vegetable intake was significantly associated with
children's fruit and vegetable intake. (Daraganova & Thorton,
2013). Among

families

with

mother

who

was

eating

the

recommended amount of fruit and vegetables, only 20% of children

in group 1 and 24% in group 2 were not eating enough fruit, and
17% and 20% of children in group 1 and 2 respectively were not
eating enough vegetables. (Daraganova & Thorton, 2013).

The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY)

(2012) describe healthy children as those who have their physical,
developmental, psychosocial and mental health needs met and will
achieve their expected development milestones. Good nutrition has
a key influence on the longevity of a childs development in terms to
the above mentioned and when a childs individual needs are met.
(ARACY,

2012)

Effective prevention and early intervention policies and programs,

aimed at creating a population of healthy children and young
people,

are

critical

in

establishing the

necessary

sustainable

frameworks enabling them to become healthier adults. (ARACY,

2012) The AIHW (2012) along with the LSCA (2013) reflect on the
importance of not only developing healthy strategies for children
but also strategies to support parenting nutritional decisions.

What strategies have been

address childhood nutrition?

designed

to

To address childhood and adult nutritional problems within our

society the Australian Government, National Health and Medical
Research Council (NHMRC) provide Eat for Health, Australian Dietary
Guidelines. The guidelines summarise the five food groups along
with recommended serves to cater for the differentiation in age and

gender. The guidelines include 5 sections to achieving overall health

within Australia and are summarised below.
1. To achieve and maintain a healthy weight, be physically
active and choose amounts of nutritious food and
drinks to meet your energy needs (NHMRS, 2013)
a. Children and adolescents should eat sufficient nutritious
foods to grow and develop normally. They should be
physically active every day and their growth should be
checked regularly.
b. Older people should eat nutritious foods and keep
physically active to help maintain muscle strength and a
healthy weight.
2. Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious food from these five
food groups every day: (NHMRS, 2013)
a. Plenty of vegetables of different types and colours, and
legumes/beans (NHMRS, 2013)
b. Fruit (NHMRS, 2013)
c. Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and or high
cereal fibre varieties, such as breads, cereals, rice,
pasta, noodles, polenta, couscous, oats, quinoa and
barley (NHMRS, 2013)
d. Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds,
and legumes/beans (NHMRS, 2013)
e. Milk, youghurt, cheese and/or their alternatives, mostly
reduced fat (NHMRS, 2013)
And, drink plenty of water. (NHMRS, 2013)
3. Limit intake of foods containing saturated fat, added
salt, added sugars and alcohol (NHMRS, 2013)
a. Limit intake of foods high in saturated fat such as many
biscuits,

cakes,

pastries,

pies,

processed

meats,

commercial burgers, pizza, fried foods, potato chips,

crisps and other savoury snacks. (NHMRS, 2013)
i. Replace
high
fat
foods,
which
contain
predominately saturated fats such as butter,
cream, cooking margarine, coconut and palm oil
with

foods,

which

contain

predominately

polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats such

as oils, spreads, nut butters/pastes and avocado.
(NHMRS, 2013)
ii. Low fat diets are not suitable for children under
the age of 2 years. (NHMRS, 2013)
b. Limit intake of foods and drinks containing sugar
(NHMRS, 2013)
i. Read labels to choose lower sodium options
among similar foods. (NHMRS, 2013)
ii. Do not add salt to goods in cooking or at the
tables. (NHMRS, 2013)
c. Limit intake of foods containing added sugars such as
confectionary, sugar-sweetened soft drinks and cordials,
fruit drinks, vitamin waters, energy and sports drinks.
(NHMRS, 2013)
d. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit intake. For women
who

are

pregnant,

planning

pregnancy

or

breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is the safest option.

(NHMRS, 2013)
4. Encourage,
support

and

promote

breastfeeding

(NHMRS, 2013)
5. Care for your food; prepare and store it safely (NHMRS,
2013)

References for this document have been included on the websites

Reference page.