ANZOS 2013 abstracts e89

methods used and the limited number of studiesreviewed precluded results pooling. Discussion ofassociated equity issues, potential side effects andthe feasibility of implementing such fiscal measuresfor obesity prevention was limited.

Concluding statement: Whilst the effectivenessliterature around fiscal measures for obesity pre-vention is vast, it has inherent limitations whichimpact on the quality of the small body of existingcost-effectiveness literature. Definitive conclusionsabout the value for money of fiscal policies can-not yet be drawn. Uncertainty and gaps in theeffectiveness evidence base need to be addressedby collecting ‘real-world’ empirical data in largerstudies with more robust designs and longer follow-up time frames.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2013.12.661

163

Trends in body mass index forAustralian adults according tosocioeconomic position

Emma Gearon 1,∗, KathrynBackholer 1, Dianna Magliano 1, KylieBall 2, Alison Beauchamp 1,Christopher Stevenson 3, AnnaPeeters 1

1 Baker IDI Heart and DiabetesInstitute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia2 Centre for Physical Activity andNutrition Research, School ofExercise and Nutrition Sciences,Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC,Australia3 School of Health and SocialDevelopment, Deakin University,Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Background: We have previously shown thatbetween 1980 and 2000, age-adjusted mean bodymass index (BMI) of urban Australian adultsincreased by 1.4 and 2.1 kg/m2 for men and women,respectively [1]. The prevalence of obesity doubledto around 20%, while the increasing right skew ofthe population BMI distribution resulted in a four-fold increase in the prevalence of severe obesity[1]. Obesity prevalence has continued to increasein Australian adults, reaching 28% in 2012. The cur-rent study aimed to quantify trends in BMI accordingto socioeconomic position (SEP) among men andwomen from 1980 to 2007.

Methods: We compared data from the 1980,1983 and 1989 National Heart Foundation Risk Fac-tor Prevalence Survey (RFPS), the 1995 National

Nutrition Survey (NNS), the 2000 Australian Dia-betes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab), andthe 2007 National Health Survey (NHS). Analyseswere restricted to residents from Australian capitalcities aged 25—64. BMI was calculated from mea-sured height and weight and individual level SEPwas defined as having completed secondary schoolor not.

Results: Socioeconomic inequalities were evi-dent across all survey years for each age and sexstrata according to mean BMI, prevalence of obe-sity and mean BMI in the top fifth percentile ofBMI distribution. The age standardised prevalenceof obesity increased from 12% to 31% and 10% to 21%between 1980 and 2007 for low and high SEP men,respectively. For women, the prevalence of obesityincreased from 12% to 28% and 7% to 18% for lowand high SEP groups, respectively.

Conclusions: Inequalities in BMI have persistedin the Australian adult population since 1980 withno signs of improvements, and a possible worsen-ing in recent years. It is essential that interventionsto address the increasing trend of obesity have thedual goal of improving population levels of weightand reducing its associated disparities.

Reference

[1] Walls HL, et al. Trends in BMI of urban Australian adults,1980—2000. Public Health Nutr 2009:1475—2727 [Elec-tronic].

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2013.12.662

164

Australian general practitionersconfidence in and attitudes towardsweight management

Alice A. Gibson ∗, Kyra Sim, IanCaterson

The Boden Institute of Obesity,Nutrition, Exercise and EatingDisorders, The University of Sydney,Sydney, NSW, Australia

General practitioners (GPs) are in an ideal posi-tion to provide weight management to overweightand obese patients due to the long-term natureof the patient- physician relationship. Clinicalpractice guidelines provide detailed, evidence-based recommendations for assessing and managingoverweight and obesity. However, the adoptionand implementation of these guidelines may beinfluenced by a GP’s confidence in, and attitudes

e90 Abstracts

towards, weight management. An online survey ofAustralian GPs (n = 250) from rural (8%), regional(19%) and metro (73%) areas was conducted. Thesurvey included questions relating to patient popu-lation characteristics, and attitudes and behavioursin weight management.

GPs were found to fall into 1 of 3 categories:(1) confident and self-assured in weight manage-ment (47%); (2) less confident in discussing weightmanagement (23%); and (3) casual or apathetic toweight management (30%). Not surprisingly, GPswho appeared more confident (category 1) reporteddiscussing weight with a higher proportion of theiroverweight and obese patients (73% overweight and86% obese, versus 66% overweight and 79% obese forcategory 2 and 64% overweight and 76% obese forcategory 3).

If a GP’s confidence in weight management influ-ences the likelihood of discussing weight with anoverweight or obese patient, then strategies toincrease GPs’ confidence in weight managementcould be an important aspect of managing the obe-sity epidemic in the primary care setting.

This study was funded by iNova.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2013.12.663

165

Associations of mode of schoolcommuting with health outcomesamong children

Clare Hume 1,∗, Jo Salmon 1, KylieHesketh 1, David Dunstan 2, Robin M.Daly 1, Ester Cerin 1, DavidCrawford 1, Anna Timperio 1

1 Deakin University, Burwood, VIC,Australia2 Baker IDI, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Aim: This study examined associations of chil-dren’s active and sedentary school commuting withbody mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC)and blood pressure (BP).

Methods: Data were drawn from the baselinephase of the Transform-Us! randomised con-trolled trial, conducted in metropolitan Melbourne,Australia. Complete data were available for 296children (41% boys) aged 8.2 (SD 0.47) years. Chil-dren’s weight, height, WC, systolic, and diastolicBP were objectively measured using standard pro-tocols and BMI was calculated as a standardisedz-score. Parents proxy-reported the frequency oftheir child’s usual mode of commuting to/fromschool (walking and cycling — active commuting;driven by car/bus — sedentary commuting), along

with their own education level. Linear regres-sion analyses (adjusting for sex, parents’ educationlevel and clustering by school) examined associa-tions between active and sedentary commuting andBMI z-score, WC and systolic and diastolic BP.

Results: On average, children walked or cycledto/from school 2.3 trips/week and travelled bycar or bus 5.6 trips/week. Approximately 21% ofchildren were overweight/obese according to theirBMI, and less than 10% had a WC greater than the90th percentile. Approximately 15% recorded a sys-tolic BP above the 90th percentile, but only 7%recorded a diastolic BP in that range. Children’smode of school commuting was not significantlyassociated with BMI z-score, WC or BP; howeverassociations between sedentary commuting andchildren’s BMI z-score and WC approached signifi-cance in the expected direction.

Conclusion: In this cohort of Australian primaryschool-aged children, there were no significantassociations between any of the cardiometabolichealth outcomes and children’s commuting to orfrom school; however two associations for seden-tary commuting did approach significance. The lackof significant findings may be due the small sam-ple size, or few children presented with adversehealth outcomes. Further research examining thesequestions in a larger sample is required.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2013.12.664