RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Potential influence of school-based lifestyle strategies among Australian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children: a cross-sectional comparison of adiposity and weight related behaviours between 2010 and 2015
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 518233
DO 10.1101/518233
A1 Louise L Hardy
A1 Rona MacNiven
A1 Tuguy Esgin
A1 Seema Mihrshahi
YR 2019
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/01/12/518233.abstract
AB Background In New South Wales (Australia) there has been substantial long term investment in school-based child obesity prevention programs. Whether these programs have led to population level improvements in children’s adiposity and weight-related behaviours in Aboriginal children, who are at greater risk of poorer health outcomes, is yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to describe changes in adiposity and weight-related behaviours of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children and to examine the equality of changes between the two groups.Methods Representative cross-sectional population surveys conducted in 2010 and 2015 among children age 5-16 years (n=15,613), stratified by Aboriginality. Indicators of weight-related behaviour (diet, physical activity, school travel, screen-time) were measured by questionnaire with parents responding for children age <10 years and self-report by children age >10 years. Objective measurements included height, weight, waist circumference, cardiorespiratory fitness, and fundamental movement skills.Results Adiposity prevalences were significantly higher in 2015, than 2010 among non-Aboriginal children only, however adiposity prevalences were consistently higher among Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal children. There were positive changes towards adopting healthier weight-related behaviours in all children between surveys, which were consistently significant among non-Aboriginal, but not Aboriginal, children. The magnitude of changes and the 2015 prevalences in weight-related behaviours were generally similar for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children, however positive changes in fruit consumption and locomotor skills were significantly larger among Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal children. The prevalence of being driven to school in 2015 was significantly higher than 2010 for both groups.Conclusions Overall, there are signs that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children are shifting towards healthier weight-related behaviours. However, many unhealthy weight-related behaviours remain highly prevalent. Our findings may have utility for the direction of future health policy and service delivery to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children and the development of health promotion programs to build on these improvements in health behaviours.