Obesity in Primary Schools

Childhood obesity is a significant health issue in Australia, with children at primary school age (5-11 years) experiencing a growing prevalence of this issue. Childhood obesity, defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat that negatively impacts a child’s physical and mental health conditions, is quantified as Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles. A child is viewed to be obese when their BMI is greater than the 95th percentile for their age, sex and height. Over the past few decades, rates of overweight and obesity among Australian children have increased, and this rise has been attributed to several factors, including children’s higher involvement in sedentary, screen-based activities and their exposure to busy family schedules.

Obesity presents a range of signs and symptoms that can significantly hinder a child’s health and quality of life. Common indicators include excessive weight gain relative to height, visible fat accumulation, shortness of breath during minor physical activity, fatigue, joint pain, and sleep disturbances such as sleep apnoea. In the long term, obese children are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, poor self-esteem, and social isolation. More concerningly, obesity in childhood is a strong predictor of obesity in adulthood, further increasing the burden on Australia’s healthcare system.