Nutrition survey: The good news and the bad news

By REBECCA WALSH, health reporter

Younger children are doing well nutritionally, but the picture is not so rosy for older ones, the largest national child nutrition study yet done reveals.

The survey of more than 3000 children aged 5-14 shows that most children receive adequate nutrients, particularly younger ones who eat healthier foods, are more active and less likely to be overweight.

But the same is not true of older children, who the researchers say are exposed to a greater range of foods, peer pressure and advertising.

Overall, one-third of children are overweight or obese. Of those one in 10 fall in obese category. About 60 per cent of Pacific and 40 per cent of Maori children were overweight or obese, compared with 24 per cent of European and other children.

The 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey, financed by the Ministry of Health and carried out by researchers at Auckland, Otago and Massey Universities, also found too many children had inadequate iodine intakes.

Reduced use of salt, particularly iodised salt, is thought to be a major factor in the decline.

Salt was not added to the meals prepared for about a third of children, and about half of children did not add salt to meals at the table. Too much salt can contribute to high blood pressure.

The nutrition director for the study, Winsome Parnell, said the issue was cause for concern. The Ministry of Health and the Food Safety Authority had set up a committee to look at how to get more iodine into the food supply. In Tasmania, iodised salt was used in bread and that was a possibility.

Iodine deficiency can result in goitre, caused by an enlarged thyroid. The thyroid gland monitors the body's metabolism rate. If it is not functioning properly, people can become sluggish and tired.

In severe cases it can cause mental retardation and stunt physical development.

A total of 3276 children from 172 schools were involved in the survey.

Researchers collected information about their diet and exercise patterns, how much TV they watched and how often families could afford to eat properly.

Health Minister Annette King said the survey results confirmed what many had suspected and provided vital information to create more effective policies and health programmes in the future.

Children's overall fat intakes were satisfactory but saturated fat (bad fat) was higher than ideal.

Ms King said there were no easy answers. Healthy messages needed to come not only from the home but the wider community, including schools, health professionals and Government organisations.

Mrs Parnell, a senior lecturer in human nutrition at Otago University, said the main message was that New Zealanders could do better, given the abundance of fresh food available, "but we need to choose more carefully".


NZ Food, NZ Children: Findings of the 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey