Journal article
What factors are associated with excess body weight in Australian secondary school students?
BC Morley, ML Scully, PH Niven, AD Okely, LA Baur, IS Pratt, MA Wakefield
Medical Journal of Australia | Published : 2012
DOI: 10.5694/mja11.11184
Abstract
Objectives: To examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australian secondary school students and identify factors associated with excess adiposity. Design, setting and participants: Cross-sectional survey of students aged 12-17 years (in school years 8-11) who completed the National Secondary Students' Diet and Activity survey in 2009-10, which included a web-based self-report questionnaire and height and weight measurements. Main outcome measures: Overweight and obesity based on international standard body mass index (BMI) cut-offs for children and adolescents. Results: Data were analysed for 12 188 students. Just under one in four students were either overweight (18%) or obese (..
View full abstractGrants
Funding Acknowledgements
The National Secondary Students' Diet and Activity Survey was jointly funded by state Cancer Councils through Cancer Council Australia, and by the National Heart Foundation of Australia. Melanie Wakefield is supported by an National Health and Medical Research Council Principal Research Fellowship. I-view was responsible for fieldwork coordination. We thank the school principals, teachers and students who participated in this study.