Childhood obesity is complex.
1-in-4 Aussie kids are overweight or obese.
Childhood obesity has tripled since the 1980s; it's significantly higher for kids who grow up in regional areas, those from low-income families, and those living in single-parent households.

Environment, poverty, genetics, housing security, education, town planning and access to healthy food and healthcare all play a massive part in determining health.
#sdoh #obesity
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Chris Steffanoni on Instagram: "Childhood obesity is a complex problem in Australia. One out of every four kids is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity has tripled since the 1980s; it's significantly higher for kids who grow up in regional areas, those from low-income families, and those living in single-parent households. We know Australians eat less healthy foods than before; we are also less physically active. Environment, poverty, genetics, housing security, education, town planning and access to healthy food and healthcare all play a massive part in determining how healthy our kids are. Healthy choices are not as accessible to everyone. #nutrition #publichealth #obesity"

7 likes, 0 comments - chris_steff on December 3, 2024: "Childhood obesity is a complex problem in Australia. One out of every four kids is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity has tripled since the 1980s; it's significantly higher for kids who grow up in regional areas, those from low-income families, and those living in single-parent households. We know Australians eat less healthy foods than before; we are also less physically active. Environment, poverty, genetics, housing security, education, town planning and access to healthy food and healthcare all play a massive part in determining how healthy our kids are. Healthy choices are not as accessible to everyone. #nutrition #publichealth #obesity".

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@chris_steff Your post doesn't mention physical activity. I live near a primary school, so there are plenty of kids living in the area, but where are they? In the 80s the streets would have been teeming with kids on bikes going to and from school and riding round with their friends after school.

Now there's a long queue of SUVs dawdling along, pumping out CO2, picking up kids for the short ride home. Do the kids then go out into the street to throw balls, skip rope, play hopscotch, ride their bikes, race their billy carts down the hill? No, that would be a sign of "lax parenting". The odds are their after school play involves an electronic device and much less physical activity than past generations. And nil adventure or risk-taking.

@anne_twain More screen time leads to less physical activity and less sleep, contributing to weight gain.
I haven't looked at the data, but I suspect parents are more fearful of letting kids walk or ride to school than previous generations. In addition to poor suburban and town planning that reduces walkability, it's a big issue.
We see ourselves as a sun-loving, physically active society, but we become more sedentary as time passes.