Poster Presentation Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society 2014 Annual Scientific Meeting

Whanau Pakari: perception versus reality – how active are obese New Zealand children? (#153)

Kris Moller 1 , Michelle Butler 2 , Tami Cave 3 4 , Kate Treves 3 , Cervantee Wild 5 , Lisa Wynter 3 , Cameron Grant 6 , Paul Hofman 4 , Yvonne C Anderson 3 4
  1. Sport Taranaki, New Plymouth, New Zealand
  2. Taranaki Base Hospital, New Plymouth, New Zealand
  3. Taranaki Base Hospital, New Plymouth, New Zealand
  4. Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland , New Zealand
  5. Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  6. Department of Paediatrics, The University of Auckland, Auckland, Auckland , New Plymouth

Whanau Pakari is a multi-disciplinary intervention programme for obese children and adolescents in Taranaki, targeting Maori and those in most deprived areas, who are over-represented in obesity statistics.

Aim: To assess perceived versus actual activity level at initial assessment, and compare activity levels of participants with national data.

Methods: Baseline assessments from January 2012 to August 2014 were reviewed. Referral criteria were overweight or obese, age 5-16 years. Participants completed the Children’s Physical Activity Questionnaire (C-PAQ)2  and were requested to wear an ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer during waking hours for two week days and one weekend day.

Results: 240 baseline assessments were analysed.C-PAQ questionnaires were available for 235 participants, and accelerometer data for 137. Maori was the self-identified ethnicity for 109 (45%), New Zealand European (NZE) for 109 (45%), Pacific Island for 6 (3%), Asian for 6 (3%), and other ethnic groups for 10 (4%).

The C-PAQ showed lower self-report of activity compared with ActiGraph data for time spent in the activity range from lifestyle to very vigorous physical activity (94 minutes vs. 135 minutes respectively, p<0.0001).

There was no significant difference between average actual physical activity levels[(moderate to very vigorous activity) between Maori and NZE (39 minutes vs. 37 minutes, p=0.8), which is lower than the national average of 104 minutes3, and lower than the recommended 60 minutes per day of moderate to very vigorous activity for children4. 

Average screen time per weekday trended to be lower in Maori compared with NZE (142 vs. 158 minutes respectively, p=0.08). National guidelines recommend no more than 120 minutes per day4 .

Conclusion: In obese children aged 5 to 16 years perceived overall activity underestimates actual activity levels. In these obese children neither duration of moderate to very vigorous activity levels nor of screen time met the currently recommended levels.

  1. Ministry of Health. 2013. New Zealand Health Survey: Annual update of key findings 2012/13. Wellington: Ministry of Health
  2. CPAQ - http://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/files/2013/05/CPAQ.pdf
  3. Clinical Trials Research Unit, Synovate. A National Survey of Children and Young People's Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviours in New Zealand: 2008/09–Key Findings. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health; 2010
  4. Ministry of Health, Clinical Trials Research Unit. Clinical guidelines for weight management in New Zealand children and young people. Wellington: Ministry of Health; 2009.