Critical design features for establishing a childhood obesity monitoring program in Australia.

Efforts to combat childhood obesity in Australia are hampered by the lack of quality epidemiological data to routinely monitor the prevalence and distribution of the condition. This paper summarises the literature on issues relevant to childhood obesity monitoring and makes recommendations for implementing a school-based childhood obesity monitoring program in Australia. The primary purpose of such a program would be to collect population-level health data to inform both policy and the development and evaluation of community-based obesity prevention interventions.

A prospective study of diet quality and mental health in adolescents.

Objectives: A number of cross-sectional and prospective studies have now been published demonstrating inverse relationships between diet quality and the common mental disorders in adults. However, there are no existing prospective studies of this association in adolescents, the onset period of most disorders, limiting inferences regarding possible causal relationships.

Methods: In this study, 3040 Australian adolescents, aged 11-18 years at baseline, were measured in 2005-6 and 2007-8.

Associations between diet quality and depressed mood in adolescents: results from the Australian Healthy Neighbourhoods Study.

Objective: Adolescence frequently coincides with the onset of psychiatric illness and depression is commonly observed in adolescents. Recent data suggest a role for diet quality in adult depression. Given the importance of adequate nutrition for brain development, it is of interest to examine whether diet quality is also related to depression in adolescents.

Exploring the feasibility and acceptability of using internet technology to promote physical activity within a defined community.

Issue Addressed: To explore the feasibility of using the Internet and e-mail to promote physical activity in a defined community.

Methods: An online survey was conducted through a community-based Internet Service Provider (ISP). ISP clients were recruited via electronic newsletter and direct e-mail.

Print versus website physical activity programs: a randomized trial.

Background: Mediated physical activity interventions can reach large numbers of people at low cost. Programs delivered through the mail that target the stage of motivational readiness have been shown to increase activity. Communication technology (websites and e-mail) might provide a means for delivering similar programs.