A preliminary investigation into the prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity of northern Tasmanian primary school children

Obesity has many serious health consequences for adults and children alike. Despite such knowledge, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Australians is rapidly increasing. Objective: This study attempted to conduct initial research into the prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary school children in Launceston, Tasmania, and to compare the data with that of other Australian youth. Methods: Weight and height for body mass index (BMI) calculations were obtained from four randomly selected schools in Launceston, Tasmania, using a portable stadiometer and Sohenle digital bathroom scales. Results: Of 329 participants, 24% were regarded as being overweight and obese on the basis of BMI scores. When compared with BMI data from the 1985 Australian Health and Fitness Survey, six of the eight age and gender subgroups were significantly higher (p<0.05). Conclusion and implications: Further research, using much larger and randomly selected samples, needs to be conducted so that trends can be monitored, baseline data for Tasmanian schoolchildren established, and both community and school intervention strategies implemented.