Recently I was doing research as I am currently studying paediatric nutrition and came across the Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. It was commissioned by the government in 2007 and the next survey is due out 2013. The CSIRO in conjunction with South Australia Uni surveyed over 4,000 children between the ages of 2-16. They reported food and nutrient intake, physical activity levels and the weight, height and waist circumference of the children.

Key findings were:

  • 72% of children surveyed were at a healthy weight: 17% of boys & girls were classified as overweight while 6% were obese
  • Over 30% of children did less than 1 hour of exercise daily
  • The older children became, they less likely they were to meet their RDI for fruit
  • The older children became, they less likely they were to meet their RDI for vegetables
  • Only 22% of 4–8 year old children and 5% of 14–16 year olds met the dietary guidelines for vegetables
  • In the children surveyed, sugar contributed to between 23–24% of total energy intake
  • Some micronutrient intakes such as calcium, sodium and magnesium are likely to be problematic, particularly for the 14–16 year olds who were the least likely to meet the recommended intake
  • Participation in screen-based activities (mainly TV) peaked in children aged 13–14 years, where screen time varied from 3.5 hours per day for girls to over 4 hours per day in boys

I was amazed at these findings! And I am a little frightened at what the current survey will report when it is released next year. In a relatively wealthy Western country where we have access to fresh fruit & vegetables our kid are really suffering. Are we becoming a nation that is calorie rich yet nutrient poor?

Our bodies are starving for nutrients but flooded with “food”!

Overall our kids are not eating enough fruit & veg, eating too much sugar, not exercising enough and watching far too much TV. As a parent, I wonder how that affects a child’s ability to learn, grow and blossom into the best version of themselves. Food for thought……..