Kiwi kids consume five unhealthy snacks a day

On average, 12-year-old children snack on unhealthy food and beverages five times a day, according to new research from the University of Otago.

The average child snacked on confectionary, salty snacks, cookies/cakes and sugary drinks at least once a day. Healthier snacks, such as fruit, were consumed occasionally, although for every healthy snack consumed, children ate 2.5 unhealthy snacks.

Ryan Gage.

Lead researcher Ryan Gage, of the University of Otago, Wellington, says current guidelines recommend that children consume snacks low in fat, sugar and salt.

“Our research shows that most snacking episodes involve unhealthy items, and that healthier options like fruit, vegetables, nuts and milk being consumed less frequently.”

The research was funded by the Cancer Society of New Zealand, and published in the journal Nutrients.

Unhealthy snacks contribute to obesity and increased risk of some cancers. New Zealand currently has the second highest rate of childhood obesity among OECD member countries. One in 10 New Zealand children are obese, and a further one in five are overweight.

The research is further analysis of the innovative Kids'Cam research, where children wore automated cameras. A selection of 168 children between the ages of 11 and 13 from 16 schools in the Wellington region of New Zealand took part in the study. Children wore the cameras over a four-day period, which recorded photographs every seven seconds.

The research found that children consumed more unhealthy snacks than healthy snacks in all settings, including 15x more unhealthy snacks in public spaces and 2.4x more unhealthy snacks in schools.

Professor Louise Signal.

Co-author Professor Louise Signal, of the University of Otago, Wellington, says the findings build on previous research outlining the unhealthy nature of children's food environments.

“Children live in an obesogenic environment, one which encourages unhealthy eating.

“Previous research shows that children are exposed to 27 junk food ads a day, and that most schools in New Zealand do not have healthy school food policies.”

Christina McKerchar, Hauora Māori Health Lecturer, at the University of Otago, Christchurch, agrees.

“There is a high density of convenience stores near schools in NZ, which overwhelmingly promote unhealthy foods to children through placement, price offers and signage.

“There are limited affordable healthy choices available for children and their caregivers to purchase in New Zealand.”

The authors call for urgent action to reduce obesogenic food environments in New Zealand.

“We need to create environments where healthy eating is the easy choice,” Gage says.

“There are several feasible, effective strategies that would greatly improve children's snacking behaviours, including comprehensive healthy food policies in school, restrictions on junk food marketing and taxes on junk food and sugar-sweetened beverages, as recently initiated in Tonga.”

The article, The Frequency and Context of Snacking among Children: An Objective Analysis Using Wearable Cameras, is published in the journal Nutrients.

Read the full article

For further information, contact:

Ryan Gage
Research Fellow
Department of Public Health
University of Otago, Wellington
Email ryan.gage@otago.ac.nz

Professor Louise Signal
Head of the Department of Public Health
University of Otago, Wellington
Email louise.signal@otago.ac.nz

Christina McKerchar
Hauora Māori Health Lecturer
Department of Population Health
University of Otago, Christchurch
Email christina.mckerchar@otago.ac.nz

Lydia Anderson
Communications Advisor
External Engagement Division
Tel +64 3 479 4728
Mob +64 21 279 9139
Email lydia.anderson@otago.ac.nz