Our children are among the fattest in the world
The latest NZ Health survey found that obesity rates have levelled off for children. There was no change in their obesity rates since the 2002 Children?s Nutrition Survey.
The 2002 national children's nutrition survey results found:
- Nearly one-third of NZ children are overweight or obese.
- 21% of NZ children are overweight and a further 10% are obese.
- Nearly one in 10 are obese.
- Pacific Island children are the heaviest with over 60% either overweight or obese.
- 47% of Maori girls and 35% of Maori boys are overweight or obese.
Other studies tell the same story:
- A 2001 study of Auckland children aged between 5-11 years found 14% were obese. One in four Pacific Island children were obese - making them one of the fattest groups in the world.
- A 2001 study of Christchurch children aged 10-14 years found their weight had increased from 1991 to 2000.
- Nearly 25% of Dunedin teenagers are overweight or obese.
Obesity in children is increasing around the world:
- In the US, 15% of children are overweight or obese. There are twice as many overweight children and three times as many overweight teenagers than 20 years ago.
- In Australia, 25% of Australian children are overweight or obese. 5% are obese. Between 1985 and 1995, the obesity rate tripled and the number of overweight or obese children doubled.
- In England, nearly 9% of 6 year-olds and 15% of 15 year-olds are obese.
More facts:
- Adult obesity is high in NZ and likely to increase
- Lack of exercise and unhealthy eating are two of the main causes
- Being overweight increases the risk of premature illness and death
- Obesity and related diseases will lead to dramatically increased health costs
Back to "Obesity - The Facts" homepage
References
A Portrait of Health: Key results of the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey
NSW Health. Fact sheet: Overweight and obesity in Australian children
Prevalence of Overweight Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 1999-2000
Obesity Still on the Rise, New Data Show
Childhood obesity in Canada has tripled in past 20 years
Obesity and Overweight. Fact sheet. WHO, 2003
Prevalence of Overweight Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 1999-2000
Prevention of Paediatric Overweight and Obesity. Paediatrics, 112 (2) August 2003: 424-430
NZ Food, NZ Children: Findings of the 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey, 2003
Tyrell VJ, et al. Obesity in Auckland school children: a comparison of the body mass index and percentage body fat as the diagnostic criterion. International Journal of Obesity, Feb 2001 25,16
Dawson, K., Hamlin, M., Ross, J. and Duffy, D. Trends in health-related physical fitness of 10-14 year old New Zealand children, Journal of Physical Education 34(1):26-39, 2001
