Priority S3: Technical Notes

Improved health through reduced obesity, smoking, illicit drug use and risk drinking.

S3(d): Childhood obesity

Measure

S3(d): Proportion of children aged between 5 to 16 years inclusive, who are overweight or obese

Lead Agency

NSW Department of Health

Definitions

Overweight and obese is assessed using Body Mass Index which is calculated using measured height and weight information and calculated as follows, BMI =weight(kg)/height²(m).

The resultant BMI is assessed against age-appropriate categories recommended by the International Obesity Taskforce, and then scaled and reported as the percentage of children who are overweight (equivalent to an adult BMI of >25) and the percentage who are obese (equivalent to an adult BMI of >30).

The 2004 survey involved measurements of 5500 school children across the state, from ages 5 to 16, at both public and private schools.

Frequency

The SPANS survey is carried out once every 7 years, with the next expected survey in 2011.

Data Source

NSW Department of Health, Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition survey.

Website

www.health.nsw.gov.au

Date Modified:25-Sep-2007