The National Secondary Student's Diet and Activity (NaSSDA) survey 2009-10 is jointly funded by the state Cancer Councils, Cancer Council Australia and the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
The study fills a significant gap in existing data in Australia by establishing an ongoing commitment to the standardised monitoring of adolescents' body weight, and dietary and physical activity behaviour at both a state and national level.
The study reveals excessive levels of overweight and obesity among students, inadequate rates of physical activity, insufficient fruit and vegetable intake and a high proportion of students making food choices based on advertising. The participation of 12,000 students in years eight to 11 across 237 schools provides the first truly national survey sample of young Australians since 1985.
View the media release.