Overweight, obesity, physical activity and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in adolescents of Pacific islands: results from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System

Abstract

BackgroundOverweight, obesity and their consequences are challenges to sustainable social and economic development in Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs). Complementing previous analyses for adults, the purpose of this paper is to synthesise available data on overweight, obesity and their risk factors in adolescents in the region. The resulting Pacific perspective for the younger generation will inform both the national and regional public health response to the crisis of noncommunicable diseases.MethodsWe examined the prevalence of overweight, obesity, physical activity and carbonated sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, by using published results of two cross-sectional surveys: the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). GSHS was conducted in ten PICTs between 2010 and 2013 and provided results for 13–15 year olds. YRBSS surveys, conducted repeatedly in five PICTs between 1999 and 2013, provided results for grade 9–12 students (approximately 14–18 years) and enabled examination of trends.ResultsObesity prevalence ranged from 0 % in female students in Vanuatu to 40 % in males in Niue (GSHS). Among grade 9–12 students (YRBSS), obesity was highest in American Samoa (40 % of males; 37 % of females). Approximately 60 % of students in the Cook Islands, Niue and Tonga (GSHS) and American Samoa (YRBSS), were overweight. In both surveys, less than half of students reported engaging in sixty minutes of physical activity on at least 5 days of the past week. Daily consumption of carbonated SSBs in the past month was reported by over 42 % of students in six PICTs (GSHS), and in the past week by more than 18 % of students in three PICTs (YRBSS). In PICTs conducting YRBSS, obesity prevalence remained high or increased within the period 1999–2013.ConclusionThere is a need for urgent action on overweight, obesity and their risk factors in Pacific youth. The multiple social, economic and physical determinants of this public health crisis must be addressed. This requires all sectors within government and society in PICTs to implement and evaluate policies that will protect and promote the health of their populations across the life course.

Relationship of body fat and body mass index in young Pacific Islanders: a cross‐sectional study in European, Melanesian and Polynesian groups

“…Conversely, Asian populations have higher abdominal adiposity than European populations for the same BMI , a finding that prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to propose specific thresholds (23 and 25) to detect overweight and obesity in these populations . As already observed in other countries in the Pacific area , the prevalence of overweight is high in New Caledonian adults and adolescents , but differs with the BMI‐based reference used . To our knowledge, these BMI‐based indicators have never been compared.…”

Effectiveness of Obesity Prevention and Control

“…Indeed, a recent study examining SSB consumption and obesity among adolescents in Pacific island countries and territories found that 37% of students aged 13-15 years reported that they consumed at least one carbonated soft drink per day over the past 30 days (Kessaram et al 2015). …”

The nutritional preferences in the college students and the risk of gaining excessive weight

“…Показано, что преимущественно студенты ведут си-дячий образ жизни, много времени проводят за ком-пьютером, мало внимания уделяют дополнитель-ным занятиям физической культурой и спортом [24,25].…”