South Australian four-year-old Aboriginal children: residence and socioeconomic status influence weight.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity rates have increased in children in Australia in the past 15 years. However, there is little available population data describing rates of overweight and obesity in Aboriginal children.


METHODS
Anthropometric data of four-year-old children (n=11,859) were collected by trained nurses at routine statewide preschool health checks during 2009. Weight status (underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese) was determined using age and gender specific International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-points.


RESULTS
There were 337 Aboriginal children (3%) in the study population. Aboriginal children had significantly higher rates of overweight and obesity compared to non-Aboriginal children (28% compared to 18% respectively, χ(2) p=0.0001). A statistically significant association between BMIz score and identifying as Aboriginal remained after controlling for rural/urban residence and socioeconomic status using multiple regression analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
Aboriginal children have higher rates of overweight and obesity compared to their non-Aboriginal peers by the time they are four years of age. Aboriginal children have higher BMIz scores compared to non-Aboriginal children after controlling for rural/urban residence and socioeconomic status.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant investment is required to optimise the health of Aboriginal women before pregnancy and throughout pregnancy. A rethink may be necessary in the approach to dietary management and catch-up growth of Aboriginal children of low birth weight or having growth failure in early childhood.
University of Adelaide, South Australia. nicola.spurrier@health.sa.gov.au
Nicola J
NJ
Spurrier
Robert E
RE
Volkmer
Christina Abi
CA
Abdallah
Alwin
A
Chong
D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data