Changes in body composition between 1997 and 2002 among South Australian children: influences of socio-economic status and location of residence

Objective: To compare rates of change in South Australian children's body composition between 1997 and 2002 in subsamples based on location of residence and socioeconomic status. Methods: Year 6 children from randomly selected South Australian schools in 1997 (32 schools, n=1,423) and 2002 (29 schools, n=992) were compared on: body mass index (BMI), sum of triceps and abdominal skinfolds (skinfold sum) and waist girth. Samples were partitioned into urban (population >20,000) and rural ( Results: Between surveys, there were significant increases in boys' waist girth (p=0.004) and skinfold sum (p=0.007), and girls' BMI (p=0.0005) and skinfold sum (p Conclusions: Secular trends in Australian children's body fatness are continuing. Further, the rates of change in girls are affected by the socio-demographic milieu. Implications: The development of targeted interventions to combat child obesity will depend on a clearer understanding of how environmental influences on weight status are distributed across the socio-demographic landscape.