Dunedin study reveals one in four teens overweight

Nearly a quarter of Dunedin teenagers are overweight or obese, an Otago University study has revealed.

Paediatric Society president Nick Baker said the figures were concerning and might be the start of a downward health spiral as the young people aged.

Results of the 2001 study of 652 year 11 (fifth form) students were presented at the New Zealand Paediatric Society conference in Queenstown on Friday.

Researcher Melissa Carter said the study backed widespread anecdotal evidence that more young people were becoming overweight. They were also said to be consuming more fast food and soft drink.

Teen lifestyles were less active than they used to be, with computer use contributing to the decline, she said.

Only half the girls and two-thirds of the boys studied were doing at least the minimum amount of exercise recommended for good health - 20 minutes three times a week.

Dr Baker said the young people studied were at an age where physical activity declined sharply because it stopped being compulsory at school.

Non-sporty children were deprived of physical activity, he said.

"Kids, particularly if they are a bit clumsy or a bit on the chubby side, are reluctant to get out there in front of their peers," he said.

Non-competitive activity, such as swimming, dancing, orienteering or even gardening, should be available for those who did not want to play sports.

Dr Baker said good health was important in young people and children because it set the stage for their adult habits.

Ms Carter said she hoped the study could be used to track how young people's health was affected in later life.

The teens were measured in two ways. One was the body mass index measurement of weight divided by height squared.

But the researchers also tried waist circumference and found it might be a better measure, particularly among girls, Ms Carter said.

"It was better than saying to the girls 'hop on the scales'. I think it was because they know what is a heavy weight but they don't know what a big waist measurement is."

Dr Baker agreed that weighing teenagers was not ideal.

Of the boys studied, 16.4 per cent were classed as overweight, with 8 per cent obese.

Nearly 18 per cent of the girls were overweight and 6 per cent obese.

- NZPA