Socio‐cultural differences in <scp>A</scp>ustralian primary school children's weight and weight‐related behaviours

Hardy, Louise L.; King, Lesley; Hector, Debra; Baur, Louise A.

doi:10.1111/jpc.12263

Cited by 16 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…This is consistent with other research that shows children experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage have lower quality diets and higher intakes of junk foods and beverages [26, 27]. A recent study from NSW showed that, among low SES children, there were also clear differences in weight and weight-related behaviours according to cultural background [28]. While it has been shown that parents of children from Middle Eastern cultural backgrounds generally encouraged healthy behaviours, they also reported making regular exemptions [29].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Assessing junk food consumption among Australian children: trends and associated characteristics from a cross-sectional study

et al. 2017

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BackgroundThe ubiquitous supply of junk foods in our food environment has been partly blamed for the increased rates in overweight and obesity. However, consumption of these foods has generally been examined individually perhaps obscuring the true extent of their combined consumption and impact on health. An overall measure of children’s junk food consumption may prove useful in the development of child obesity prevention strategies. We describe the development of a children’s Junk Food Intake Measure (JFIM) to summarise temporal change in junk food consumption and examine the association between the JFIM and health-related behaviours.MethodsCross-sectional population surveillance survey of Australian children age 5–16 years collected in 2010 and 2015. Data were collected by questionnaire with parent’s proxy reporting for children in years K, 2 and 4 and children in years 6, 8 and 10 by self-report. Information on diet, screen-time and physical activity was collected using validated questionnaires. The JFIM comprised consumption of fried potato products, potato crisps/salty snacks, sweet and savoury biscuits/cakes/doughnuts, confectionary and, ice cream/ice blocks.ResultsA total of 7565 (missing = 493, 6.1%) and 6944 (missing n = 611, 8.1%) children had complete data on consumption of junk foods, in 2010 and 2015, respectively. The 2015 survey data showed that among students from high socio-economic status neighbourhoods, there were fewer high junk food consumers than low junk food consumers. Children from Middle Eastern cultural backgrounds had higher junk food consumption. High junk food consumers were more likely to consume take-away ≥3/week, eat dinner in front of the television, receive sweet rewards, be allowed to consume snacks anytime, have soft drinks available at home and a TV in their bedroom. There was a lower proportion of high junk food consumers in 2015 compared to 2010.ConclusionThis is the first study to provide and examine a summary measure of overall junk food consumption among Australian children. The results indicate that junk food consumption among Australian children is lower in 2015, compared with 2010. Still, the public health workforce must continue their efforts as levels of junk food consumption remain of concern among Australian children.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Assessing junk food consumption among Australian children: trends and associated characteristics from a cross-sectional study

et al. 2017

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“…Consistent with previous findings among Asian CALD youth in Australia and internationally, the present study found lower levels of PA 5,6,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22]38 and greater levels of SB 5,17,18,21 among Chinese Australian and South-east Asian adolescents compared with their non-CALD Anglo-Australian counterparts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to objectively investigate differences in PA and SB participation among specific Asian Australian populations and highlights several concerns that warrant attention.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour among Asian and Anglo‐Australian adolescents

Strugnell

Renzaho

Ridley

et al. 2015

Health Prom J of Aust

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The results demonstrate lower engagement in daily MVPA and LPA and greater engagement in ST using accelerometry among Chinese Australian and South-east Asian adolescents compared with Anglo-Australian adolescents. These findings have important public health implications in furthering our understanding of CALD differences in PA and SB. SO WHAT? An understanding of the CALD differences in physical activity and sedentary behaviour among Australian adolescents has important implications for intervention planning and delivery as well as the wider health implications of these behaviours. This article furthers the current understanding of CALD adolescents' participation in physical activity and sedentary behaviour, of which limited information is available.

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“…, O'Dea & Dibley , Achat & Stubbs , Hardy et al . ). The prevalence of overweight/obesity has been found to be higher among Australian children from Pacific Island, European, North African and Middle Eastern cultural backgrounds compared with their English‐speaking background peers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…, O'Dea & Dibley , Achat & Stubbs ), a NSW study showed that, among low SES children, there were clear differences in weight and weight‐related behaviours according to cultural background (Hardy et al . ). In particular, boys from Asian or Middle Eastern and a low SES background were significantly more likely to be obese compared with their peers from an English‐speaking background.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The NSW population data (Hardy et al . , ) show that primary school‐age children of Middle Eastern descent were more likely than children of English‐speaking background to have low cardiorespiratory fitness, less likely to meet the national recommendations for physical activity, less likely to attend after‐school activity programmes and more likely to spend more time in sedentary behaviours. In addition, there was evidence of excessive consumption of fruit juice, high consumption of energy‐dense, nutrient‐poor (EDNP) foods; parental reward of good behaviour with sweets was also prevalent among Middle Eastern children.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Australian Middle Eastern parents’ perceptions and practices of children's weight-related behaviours: Talking with Parents’ Study

Hardy

Hector

Saleh

et al. 2015

Health Soc Care Community

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The home environment is associated with obesity-related behaviours among children, and research in Australia has shown that some of these behaviours are more prevalent among children from particular cultural backgrounds including Middle Eastern. This study presents findings from face-to-face, semi-structured interviews conducted in April 2013 with a convenience sample of Middle Eastern parents of primary school-age children at an Islamic private school in Sydney, Australia. The interviews explored parental perceptions and practices regarding state government health messages addressing children's eating, physical activity and screen time. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the content of these generic public health messages is relevant and acceptable to Middle Eastern parents of young children, and to identify any enablers and barriers to adopting these healthy practices at home. Thematic analysis identified predominant themes. In total, 21 interviews were conducted (reference children: 12 boys/9 girls, aged 5-12 years). The content of current health messages regarding children's weight-related behaviours was familiar to respondents, and accepted as relevant for guiding their parenting practices. Parents perceived that they typically encouraged healthy behaviours, although they also reported making regular exemptions, in response to various circumstances. Overall, the perceptions and reported practices of the parents were consistent with other studies with Australian parents. There were no apparent culturally specific barriers or enablers to children's weight-related behaviours. There is however scope for health promoters to provide more precise information on health recommendations, health risks and benefits, and to provide more specific ideas for ways in which parents can act on these health messages within the home and family environment, to encourage and support healthy behaviours in their children.

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Socio‐cultural differences in Australian primary school children's weight and weight‐related behaviours

Abstract: The results indicate the need for obesity prevention initiatives to specifically target and reach children from low SES and Asian and Middle-Eastern backgrounds, and the importance of ensuring that such initiatives are culturally appropriate and address relevant issues.

Cited by 16 publications

References 36 publications

Assessing junk food consumption among Australian children: trends and associated characteristics from a cross-sectional study

Assessing junk food consumption among Australian children: trends and associated characteristics from a cross-sectional study

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour among Asian and Anglo‐Australian adolescents

Australian Middle Eastern parents’ perceptions and practices of children's weight-related behaviours: Talking with Parents’ Study

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