Tasileta Teevale

Health and well-being of secondary school students in New Zealand: Trends between 2001, 2007 and 2012

To describe indicators of health and well‐being for New Zealand secondary school students; explore changes between 2001, 2007 and 2012; and compare these findings to international estimates.

Economic incentives to promote healthier food purchases: exploring acceptability and key factors for success

Despite increasing interest, little is known about the beliefs and views of the public in relation to the use of economic incentives as a means to promote healthy eating. This study explores views of ethnically and socioeconomically diverse shoppers regarding acceptability of economic incentives to promote healthier food purchases, and factors likely to affect the success of such schemes. Six focus groups (n = 36 participants; 14 Māori, 12 Pacific, 10 non-ethnic specific low income), were held in Auckland, New Zealand, in October 2009. A general inductive approach was used to identify common themes. The single most important reported food purchasing influence was cost. Focus group participants viewed the concept of economic incentives to promote healthy eating positively, as long as such schemes provided worthwhile incentives, and were simple and convenient to use. The preferred option for delivery was a pre-loaded electronic swipe card. Fruit and vegetables were the food group most participants said they would like to see incentivized. There was marked variability in the incentive amount thought sufficient to promote participation in such a scheme. Our findings suggest economic incentives hold promise as a means to promote healthier household food purchases, and their effectiveness should be evaluated using robust, randomized trials.

Prevalence and Recent Trends in Overweight, Obesity, and Severe Obesity among New Zealand Adolescents

BACKGROUND Around the world, there have been numerous reports of a leveling of the prevalence of obesity. Given that New Zealand has among the highest rates of child and adult obesity in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the aim of the current study was to document the prevalence of, and recent trends in, overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among adolescents in New Zealand. METHODS Data were collected as part of two nationally representative surveys in 2007 and 2012. In both surveys, a nationally representative group of students was selected to participate in the health and well-being surveys from a nationally representative sample of secondary schools. Across the two surveys, more than 17,000 students participated in the survey, which also included measured heights and weights. RESULTS In 2012, nearly 40% of adolescents in New Zealand were overweight, obese, or severely obese. Between 2007 and 2012, there were no decreases in the prevalence of obesity for the general population or any demographic subgroup. However, the prevalence of obesity and severe obesity for Pacific young people increased significantly. Of note, the prevalence of severe obesity for Pacific young people increased from 9% in 2007 to 14% in 2012. CONCLUSIONS Findings from the current study indicate the need for an urgent investment in obesity prevention, particularly to address the growing inequalities in obesity for Pacific young people.

Predictors of cigarette use amongst Pacific youth in New Zealand

BackgroundDespite progressive population health policies to reduce tobacco harm, smoking prevalence continues to be inequitable amongst key ethnic groups in New Zealand. The purpose of this study is to describe the predictors of cigarette use amongst Pacific youth in New Zealand.MethodsData were collected as part of Youth’07, a nationally representative survey of the health and well-being of New Zealand adolescents. The study sample comprised 5471 students and this includes 1,178 were Pacific youth.ResultsThe smoking prevalence rate for Pacific youth was twice that of New Zealand European youth. Pacific girls and older age groups, ages 16–17, smoked more than Pacific boys and younger adolescents. Pacific youth from higher and mid-deprivation neighbourhoods smoked at twice the rate of youth from low deprivation areas. Local neighbourhood stores (dairies) were the most used location for purchasing cigarettes, and only 12.7% of under-aged adolescents were asked “most of the time” for age identification. Pacific adolescent smoking was associated with parental smoking, peer-group smoking and binge drinking. Parents not knowing the whereabouts of adolescents during after-school hours and night-times were also associated with adolescent smoking. A majority of Pacific adolescent smokers (70.2%) had tried to quit smoking.ConclusionThe strategies for addressing ethically the issue of equal health for all is to allocate increased public health investments towards targeted quit-smoking treatment programmes for Pacific youth in New Zealand. Further qualitative studies with Pacific youth to inform the development of culturally-appropriate youth-focused quit-substance interventions is recommended.

Clustering of adolescent health concerns: a latent class analysis of school students in New Zealand.

The aims of this study are to identify clinically meaningful groups of adolescents based on their engagement in high levels of risk behaviours or severe emotional health concerns and to describe the demographic characteristics of these groups in two populations of school students in New Zealand.

Prevalence of weight-related concerns and behaviours among New Zealand young people

Aim:  The study aims to describe the prevalence of weight loss behaviours and weight‐related concerns among a nationally representative sample of adolescents in New Zealand.

Acceptability and non-compliance in a family-led weight-management programme for obese Pacific children.

OBJECTIVE To explore factors influencing participation and attrition in a family-led weight-management programme for obese Pacific children. DESIGN Qualitative study used bilingual in-depth interviews at exit and end of an 8-week weight-management programme. SETTING New Zealand. SUBJECTS Forty-two parents/primary caregivers of obese children who were randomised in the intervention weight-management programme. RESULTS Programmatic factors that enhanced retention included: simultaneous delivery to both children and parents as participants; delivery of the programme in small group settings at local community venues; enabling trustworthy and accountable relationships; providing resources for travel to venues and regular telephone/text messaging follow-up calls reinforcing programme goals; and day and time scheduling. Suggested programme improvements included having ethnic-specific Island-language delivery and practical sessions like cooking classes and shopping expeditions at local food stores. The research found that unpredictable external life crises like extended family deaths, a change in job shift, family illnesses (both acute and those requiring chronic management) and long-term family visitations affected participation and momentum. A loss of momentum through managing life crises was often difficult to overcome for participants, leading them to drop out of the weight-management programme. Most drop-out participants preferred to defer their programme participation with hopes of re-committing to future programmes at another time. CONCLUSIONS In order for weight-management programmes to be effective, participants must be able to complete them. Identifying factors that predict participation and attrition may serve as a basis for programme improvement.

Food Security Concerns Among Young People: Impact on Eating Behaviors and Weight Status

The current article aims to examine the extent of food security concerns experienced by adolescents in New Zealand in 2007 and examine the impact of food security on student eating behaviors and weight status. Data were collected as part of a national health and well-being survey of secondary school students in New Zealand. More than one third of secondary school students reported that their families worried about having enough money for food sometimes or more often. Food security concerns were positively associated with overweight/obesity and negatively associated with healthy eating behaviors. We found no association between food security and the consumption or home availability of junk foods. Future research is needed to understand how ongoing threats to food security will affect the healthy development of young people.

Energy drink consumption among New Zealand adolescents: Associations with mental health, health risk behaviours and body size

With the increase in popularity of energy drinks come multiple concerns about the associated health indicators of young people. The current study aims to describe the frequency of consumption of energy drinks in a nationally representative sample of adolescents and to explore the relationship between energy drink consumption and health risk behaviours, body size and mental health.

Trends in weight-related attitudes and behaviours among New Zealand adolescents, between 2007 and 2012: Weight control among adolescents

To explore secular trends of adolescent weight control concerns and behaviours, between 2007 and 2012, and determine if these vary by body size.