Study backs up childhood obesity fears
A new study paints a grim picture of Australian children's eating habits.
The biggest survey yet of Australian kids confirms they are getting fatter and not eating regular meals.
Researchers studied 5,500 school aged children in primary and secondary schools.
They found many of them had erratic and unhealthy eating habits.
"They are not eating breakfast and snacking on take aways and snacks," Prof Louise Baur, from the Children's Hospital at Westmead, says.
Up to 40 per cent of secondary students do not eat breakfast, almost a third miss lunch and 15 per cent skipped eating regular meals in the evening.
Those who miss meals are the most likely to be overweight or obese.
The study also reveals that many children are already suffering health consequences from being overweight.
One in five teenage boys have high insulin levels, the percursor to diabetes.
"In my practice I've got kids aged eight to ten with fatty liver disease who might end up needing a transplant because of their overweightness," Prof Geoff Cleghorn, from the University of Queensland says.
The study found almost a quarter of kids were overweight or obese - that is a jump of 5 per cent in just seven years.
Boys and girls aged between 9 and 12 were amongst the heaviest.
"This is the first generation in living memory that won't live longer than their parents,"
Prof Cleghorn says.
Many in the study say they watch TV for more than two hours a day.
They drink only soft drink and juices instead of more healthy choices such as water and low fat milk.
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