Obesity, diet and exercise in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
A higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are obese, compared to non-Indigenous children. Few Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children meet dietary recommendations for intake of healthy foods, while physical activity varies across non-remote and remote areas.
Key Evidence
17.9% of Indigenous boys aged 2 to 14 years are overweight, compared to 18.7% of non-Indigenous boys
38.5% of Indigenous boys aged 12 to 13 years are overweight and 13.3% are obese
42.1% of total daily energy intake for Indigenous boys aged 4 to 8 years is from discretionary foods
63.9% of Indigenous boys in non-remote areas aged 5 to 8 years met physical activity guidelines
In 2012–13, almost one in three (29.7%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 2–14 years were either overweight (19.6%) or obese (10.2%). The proportion of Indigenous children aged 2–14 years who were overweight/obese was higher than the rate for non-Indigenous children (25.0%).1 Indigenous girls were more likely to be overweight and obese compared to Indigenous boys.
The proportion of indigenous boys who were obese increased with age in 2018-19. For indigenous girls, rates of obesity peaked at age 12-13 years.2
Diet
Few Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children met dietary recommendations for intake of fruits and vegetables in 2018-19 and a quarter of teenagers consumed sugar-sweetened beverages daily. Figures from 2011-13 show that a high percentage of daily energy intake was from discretionary food.
Fruit and vegetable consumption by serve and age group
In 2018-19, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s usual daily consumption of fruit and vegetables varied by age group.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020). 4715.0 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Australia, 2018–19. Canberra, Australia. Table 17.3
National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend a minimum number of serves of fruit and vegetables each day, depending on a person's age and sex, to ensure good nutrition and health.
| Consumption | 2–3 years | 4–8 years | 9–11 years | 12–13 years | 14–17 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | |||||
| Does not eat | 2.4 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 7.0 |
| Less than 1 serve | 4.7 | 6.2 | 4.4 | 8.9 | 12.1 |
| 1 serve | 28.2 | 23.1 | 31.5 | 33.5 | 31.1 |
| 2 serves | 31.8 | 33.6 | 33.3 | 33.0 | 27.5 |
| 3 serves | 18.4 | 22.3 | 18.7 | 15.1 | 16.5 |
| 4 serves | 7.9 | 9.1 | 8.1 | 4.7 | 3.3 |
| 5+ serves | 6.6 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 2.9 |
| Vegetables | |||||
| Does not eat | 9.2 | 6.7 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 3.3 |
| Less than 1 serve | 10.8 | 13.1 | 11.3 | 12.8 | 12.4 |
| 1 serve | 38.7 | 38.8 | 28.7 | 36.3 | 29.7 |
| 2 serves | 19.2 | 22.6 | 30.7 | 26.8 | 29.6 |
| 3 serves | 12.4 | 11.0 | 13.0 | 13.7 | 13.8 |
| 4 serves | 8.2 | 5.7 | 8.9 | 6.4 | 6.1 |
| 5+ serves | 5.0 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 5.6 |
Adequate daily fruit and vegetable consumption by age group
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020). 4715.0 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Australia, 2018–19. Canberra, Australia. Table 17.3
National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend a minimum number of serves of fruit and vegetables each day, depending on a person's age and sex, to ensure good nutrition and health.
| Consumption | 2–3 years | 4–8 years | 9–11 years | 12–13 years | 14–17 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adequate daily fruit consumption | 92.4 | 69.6 | 61.7 | 56.4 | 50.8 |
| Adequate daily vegetable consumption | 23.4 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Adequate daily fruit and vegetable consumption | 23.2 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.0 |
| Inadequate daily fruit and vegetable consumption | 76.3 | 97.9 | 95.7 | 96.4 | 97.3 |
Discretionary food makes a greater contribution to the total energy intake of Indigenous children, compared to non-Indigenous children. Discretionary foods are high in energy but low in nutrients, and are not needed to meet nutrient requirements.
Intake of added sugars was higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children than non-Indigenous children in 2011-13.3 Added sugars are those added to foods by manufacturers or consumers, excluding those naturally present in honey, syrups and fruit juices.
Almost half (47.7%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 5-17 years living in non-remote areas met the recommendation of 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day in 2012-13, compared to about one-third (35.4%) of non-Indigenous children.1
In remote areas, 81.7% of children aged 5-17 years did more than the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity on the day prior to interview in 2012-13, 14.2% did less than 60 minutes and 4.1% did no physical activity.1