Survey Set To Start In Schools
Researchers for New Zealand's first national survey of children's nutrition are starting to visit schools, says the Ministry of Health.
Health Minister Annette King and
Education Minister Trevor Mallard have signed a joint letter
of support that is being sent to the 160
representative
schools nationwide that are being asked to
participate in this study of five to 14-year-old children's
food and nutrient intakes, said Director of
Public Health
Dr Colin Tukuitonga.
"This survey will provide important
national information on children's food intakes, physical
activity and body measurements -- the first study in
New
Zealand history to do so.
"Many people worry about whether
kids are eating too much junk food, missing out on fruit and
veggies and becoming obese. We don't know what the
survey
will tell us but at least our concerns and plans to address
them will be based on the facts."
By early March,
interviewers will be talking with and measuring children who
agree and have their parent's or caregiver's consent to
participate.
Children will be interviewed in their homes,
where possible, and always with their parents or caregivers
present. Otherwise, interviews will take
place at
schools.
"The information gained from the $4 million
survey will help everyone wanting to improve children's
health. But for this to happen we need children,
parents,
and schools to join in and support the
survey."
Researchers are hoping that altogether more
than 3000 children from throughout New Zealand will
participate, and are particularly hoping Maori
and
Pacific children will take part.
The data will also
be used in future to look at how children's eating has
changed over time. Measuring children's heights and weights
will give the
Ministry of Health baseline information
about how many New Zealand children are overweight or obese.
Blood and urine samples will be taken as the
levels of
some nutrients, such as iron, zinc and iodine, are best
assessed this way.
Researchers will collect information from February to November 2002, with the results analysed and published in the final report in late 2003.
Auckland
UniServices Ltd, of the University of Auckland, has been
contracted by the Public Health Intelligence section of the
Ministry of Health to
conduct the survey. A research
team from three universities will be involved with the
survey -- the University of Auckland, the University of
Otago,
and Massey University, Palmerston North, is
conducting the
survey.
ENDS