Search

Household food insecurity in the rural township of Kaitaia is evident. This study aimed to explore strategies used by Māori (indigenous New Zealanders) mothers to meet food access needs for their whānau (family). In-depth personal interviews were undertaken with 20 Māori mothers. Three themes emerged from thematic analysis using NVivo: ensuring the whānau is fed; accessing food from multiple avenues is a time-consuming journey and the need to cope with the unexpected and unplanned. Access to food was further facilitated by strong connections to whānau, community groups and government agencies which are pivotal to navigate multiple avenues for food access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitual dietary intakes and nutrition behaviours developed during childhood and adolescence pave the way for similar behaviours to manifest in adulthood. Childhood obesity rates have now reached a point where one in six children globally are classified as overweight or obese. Schools have the unique ability to reach almost all children during key developmental stages, making them an ideal setting for influencing children's nutrition behaviours. Evidence suggests the school food environment is not always conducive to healthy food choices and may be obesogenic. The aim of this narrative review is to explore factors that influence the healthy food and drink environment in and around schools in New Zealand. The review focused on evidence from New Zealand and Australia given the close resemblance in education systems and school food guidance. Using the Analysis Grid for Environments Linked to Obesity (ANGELO) framework, the school food environment was categorised into the following domains: economic, political, physical and socio-cultural factors. Findings suggest that food policies are not utilised within schools, and guidelines to improve the school food environment are not well implemented. Canteen profit models, lack of staff support and resources, and higher availability of low-cost unhealthy foods are among barriers that hinder implementation. This review highlights recommendations from existing evidence, including canteen pricing strategies, restriction of unhealthy foods and using peer modelling in a time-scarce curriculum to improve the school food environment. Key areas for improvement, opportunities to enhance policy implementation and untapped avenues to improve the food and nutrition behaviours of children are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of caffeine due to a lack of tolerance, their small size, changing brain physiology, and increasing independence. Concerns about adolescent caffeine consumption relate to potentially serious physiological and psychological effects following consumption. Motivations driving caffeine intake are not well understood among adolescents but are important to understand to reduce harmful behavioural patterns. This study explored caffeine consumption habits (sources, amount, frequency) of New Zealand adolescents; and factors motivating caffeine consumption and avoidance. The previously validated caffeine consumption habits questionnaire (CaffCo) was completed by 216 participants (15–18 years), with most (94.9%) consuming at least one caffeinated product daily. Chocolate, coffee, tea, and kola drinks were the most consumed sources. The median caffeine intake was 68 mg·day−1. Gender (boy) and being employed influenced the source, but not the quantity of caffeine consumed. One-fifth (21.2%) of adolescents consumed more than the recommended European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) safe level (3 mg·kg−1·day−1). Taste, energy, and temperature were the main motivators for consumption, and increased energy, excitement, restlessness, and sleep disturbances were reported effects following caffeine consumption. This study provides information on caffeinated product consumption among New Zealand adolescents, some of whom consumed caffeine above the EFSA safe level. Public health initiatives directed at adolescents may be important to reduce potential caffeine-related harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the prevalence of nutrition risk using the validated, Nutrition Screening Tool for Every Pre‐schooler (NutriSTEP) among pre‐school children in New Zealand (NZ) and to identify socio‐demographic factors associated with nutrition risk. Methods: Parents/caregivers of NZ pre‐school children (aged 2–5 years) completed an online survey including NutriSTEP, both parent and child height and weight, as well as socio‐demographic characteristics. The 17‐item NutriSTEP responses were scored between 0 and 4; where item scores ≥2 indicate risk, and the maximum score is 68. Participants were stratified into low‐risk (score ≤ 20) and moderate to high‐risk (score > 20) groups. Strength of associations between nutrition risk and socio‐demographic characteristics were explored using binary regression analysis. Results: Of 505 pre‐school children, 96 (19%) were at moderate to high risk (median interquartile range NutriSTEP score 24 [22–26]) and 409 (81%) were at low risk (score 13 [10–16]). Pre‐school children at highest risk were non‐NZ European (P = 0.002), with solo parents (P = 0.002), from households with incomes ≤$50 000 (P ≤ 0.021) and with non‐university educated parents (P ≤ 0.0001). More than 30% of pre‐schoolers were at high risk for inadequate consumption of fruit, vegetables, grains, milk products, meat and meat alternatives, as well as exposure to screens during meals and overuse of supplements. Conclusions: A fifth of NZ pre‐school children were at moderate to high nutrition risk and may not have met the nutrition guidelines. Economic and ethnic disparities were apparent. Using NutriSTEP may assist to identify NZ pre‐school children at highest nutrition risk who may benefit from appropriate nutrition support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]