Obesity, diet and physical activity in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
A higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children live with obesity, compared to non-Indigenous children. Few Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children meet dietary recommendations for intake of healthy foods, while physical activity varies across non-remote and remote areas.
Key Evidence
Almost one quarter of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were living with overweight (24.3%), and a further 13.6% with obesity in 2018–19
Rates of both overweight and obesity were slightly higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls than boys in 2018–19
42.1% of total daily energy intake for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys aged 4 to 8 years was from discretionary foods in 2012–13
63.9% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys in non-remote areas aged 5 to 8 years met physical activity guidelines in 2012–13
Overweight and obesity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children by age and sex
In 2018–19, more than one in three (37.9%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 2–17 years were either living with overweight (24.3%) or obesity (13.6%). Overall, the prevalence of both overweight and obesity were slightly higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls than boys.1
Diet
Few Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children met dietary recommendations for intake of fruits and vegetables in 2018–19 and a quarter of teenagers consumed sugar-sweetened beverages daily. Figures from 2011–13 show that a high percentage of daily energy intake was from discretionary food.3
Fruit and vegetable consumption by serve and age group
In 2018–19, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s usual daily consumption of fruit and vegetables varied by age group.1
Fruit consumption by serve and age group
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020). National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Australia, 2018–19. Canberra, Australia.
National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend a minimum number of serves of fruit and vegetables each day, depending on a person's age and sex, to ensure good nutrition and health.
| Age | Does not eat | Less than 1 serve | 1 serve | 2 serves | 3 serves | 4 serves | 5+ serves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2–3 years | 2.4 | 4.7 | 28.2 | 31.8 | 18.4 | 7.9 | 6.6 |
| 4–8 years | 1.4 | 6.2 | 23.1 | 33.6 | 22.3 | 9.1 | 4.2 |
| 9–11 years | 2.4 | 4.4 | 31.5 | 33.3 | 18.7 | 8.1 | 2.6 |
| 12–13 years | 1.7 | 8.9 | 33.5 | 33.0 | 15.1 | 4.7 | 3.6 |
| 14–17 years | 7.0 | 12.1 | 31.1 | 27.5 | 16.5 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
Vegetable consumption by serve and age group
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020). National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Australia, 2018–19. Canberra, Australia.
National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend a minimum number of serves of fruit and vegetables each day, depending on a person's age and sex, to ensure good nutrition and health.
| Vegetables | Does not eat | Less than 1 serve | 1 serve | 2 serves | 3 serves | 4 serves | 5+ serves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2–3 years | 9.2 | 10.8 | 38.7 | 19.2 | 12.4 | 8.2 | 5.0 |
| 4–8 years | 6.7 | 13.1 | 38.8 | 22.6 | 11.0 | 5.7 | 2.4 |
| 9–11 years | 4.3 | 11.3 | 28.7 | 30.7 | 13.0 | 8.9 | 3.9 |
| 12–13 years | 2.0 | 12.8 | 36.3 | 26.8 | 13.7 | 6.4 | 4.2 |
| 14–17 years | 3.3 | 12.4 | 29.7 | 29.6 | 13.8 | 6.1 | 5.6 |
Percentage of total daily energy intake from discretionary food
Discretionary food makes a greater contribution to the total energy intake of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, compared to non-Indigenous children.4 Discretionary foods are high in energy but low in nutrients, and are not needed to meet nutrient requirements.
Proportion of energy from added sugars
Intake of added sugars was higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children than non-Indigenous children in 2011–13.4 Added sugars are sugars added to foods by manufacturers or consumers, and those naturally present in honey, syrups and fruit juices. The World Health Organization recommends limiting energy from free sugars to less than 10% of daily energy intake.5 Note that the WHO recommendation relates to ‘free sugars’, which is a broader category including those naturally present, and total intakes of free sugars are likely to be higher than implied by the ‘added sugar’ data provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Physical activity
Physical activity in non-remote areas
Almost half (47.7%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 5–17 years living in non-remote areas met the recommendation of 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day in 2012–13, compared to about one-third (35.4%) of non-Indigenous children.6
Physical activity in remote areas
In remote areas, 81.7% of children aged 5–17 years did more than the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity on the day prior to interview in 2012–13, 14.2% did less than 60 minutes and 4.1% did no physical activity.6
Content for this page was written by Melanie Nichols, Deakin University and reviewed by Kathryn Backholer and Gary Sacks, Co-Directors at the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition at Deakin University. For more information about the approach to content on the site please see About | Obesity Evidence Hub.