Survey of NZ preschoolers finds obesity timebomb

Preschoolers are being fed too many muesli bars and soft drinks and not enough bread, fruit and vegetables - a diet that could influence their eating habits for life.

A new survey by Auckland and Massey University researchers casts light on a little-studied area, the food consumption of 3 1/2-year-olds.

It presents a grim prognosis for New Zealand's obesity rate, given the research suggesting a lifetime's eating habits are established in childhood.

The study of 549 Pakeha preschoolers, published in the current edition of the NZ Medical Journal, suggests many children are going short on breads and cereals, topping up instead with high-energy products such as chips, muesli bars and cordial.

Just over a quarter of the sample did not eat the recommended two or more servings of fruit a day, and just over half did not eat the recommended two or more servings of vegetables.

Only 7 per cent ate enough breads, cereals, rice and pasta.

Twelve per cent ate treats such as muesli bars and potato chips - which tend to be high in sugar and/or fat - three or more times daily.

New Zealand's recommendation is that these foods be eaten only occasionally while Australia's more-prescriptive guidelines state a maximum of one or two servings a day.

The authors say that because the study sample was of higher-than-average socioeconomic status, their findings were likely to be conservative.

"The proportion of children in the general population eating fruit, vegetables, breads and cereals at recommended levels is likely to be lower than reported in this study."

The NZ Children's Nutrition Survey in 2002 - covering children aged 5 to 14 - found that 21.3 per cent were overweight and 9.8 per cent were obese. Among adults, 35 per cent were overweight and 21 per cent obese in 2003. The adult obesity rate has more than doubled since 1977 and is predicted to increase further.

The researchers for the latest study, including paediatrician Professor Ed Mitchell, say it is worrying that nearly a quarter of preschoolers in the study drank soft drinks three or more times a week.

"Limiting the consumption of these drinks in preschool children may be important, given the increasing rates of childhood obesity."

Nearly a quarter took vitamin and/or mineral supplements, despite the recommendation that supplements should generally not be given to children.

But not all the statistics are gloomy: 88 per cent ate meat, fish, eggs or chicken at least daily, and 86 per cent consumed dairy products or milk at least twice daily - in line with Health Ministry recommendations.

Massey University nutritionist Professor John Birkbeck said last night that the figures overall were of great concern.

"It just shows that the patterns that we are so unhappy about in school-aged children and adults are being set very early. The big challenge is to try to do something about it."

Otago University nutrition expert Professor Jim Mann said the figures on soft-drink consumption were the most striking, "given the epidemic of obesity we've got on our hands".

He said there was strong evidence obesity "tracks from the earliest age" and reasonable evidence that bad eating habits learned in childhood were more difficult to get rid of.

The Government last month committed $19 million extra a year for anti-obesity projects.