Hysteria over fat children inflated
A University of Sydney study has found that childhood obesity has slowed. Levels have not increased overall between 2000 and 2006. The only statistically significant increases are now among boys and girls from low-income homes.
Lead researcher Jenny O’Dea says that the government should target disadvantaged groups.
The survey compares results from nationally representative samples in 2000 and 2006.
Read more: The Australian, 31 May 2008
Obesity playing field far from level
Health expert Professor Jennings said the research shows that anti-obesity campaigns needed to be targeted.
Read more: The Australian, 2 June 2008
AMA: Don’t trivialise childhood obesity
The president of the Australian Medical Association comments on the above story.
“If we are getting to a plateau then ‘hooray’, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do with the kids we do have problems with, and it’s not just about obesity, it’s about overweight as well.”
Read more: News.com, 31 May 2008
Australia: Low income kids more likely to be obese
Children in low-income families are far more likely to be obese than those from wealthier homes, say nutrition experts.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the government’s childhood obesity prevention efforts are not misdirected. The government has to act nationally.
Read more: The West, 31 May 2008
