Background
An overall measure of children’s junk food consumption may prove useful in the development of strategies aimed to prevent childhood overweight and obesity. The aims of this study were to a) describe the development of a children’s Junk Food Index (JFI); b) summarise junk food consumption (c) examine the association between the JFI and health related behaviours and d) examine change in JFI between 2010 and 2015 among children age 5 to 16 years.
Methods
Secondary analysis of the 2010 and 2015 New South Wales School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS). Data were collected by questionnaire with parent’s proxy reporting for children in years K, 2 and 4 and children in years 6, 8 and 10 self-report. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS Complex Sample Analyses.
Results
A total of 7,565 and 6,944 children had complete data on consumption of junk foods, in 2010 and 2015, respectively. The 2015 survey data showed that among students from high SES neighbourhoods, there were fewer high junk food consumers than low junk food consumers. Children from Middle Eastern cultural backgrounds had a higher junk food consumption, were more likely to consume take-away three or more times per week, ate dinner in front of the television, received sweet rewards, allowed to consume snacks anytime and had soft drinks available at home. There was a lower proportion of high junk food consumers in 2015 compared to 2010.
Conclusion
This is the first study to provide and examine an index summary of overall junk food consumption among Australian children. While junk food consumption reported among NSW school children is lower in 2015 compared with 2010, the public health workforce must continue their efforts, as levels of junk food consumption remains of concern among children from NSW and nationwide.