Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (CAPANS)

The Physical Activity Taskforce conducts the Western Australian Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (CAPANS) to provide a measure of physical activity levels and nutrition behaviours of West Australian children and adolescents. This comprehensive data then helps to inform policy, programs and practice to encourage physical activity and improve healthy active behaviours in children.

2008 CAPANS

The 2008 Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (CAPANS) report was launched by the Chair of the Physical Activity Taskforce, the Hon Terry Waldron, MLA, Minister for Sport and Recreation on Tuesday, 29 June 2010 at Morley Senior High School.

In 2008, children in years 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11 from 19 primary schools and 17 secondary schools across WA were surveyed about their physical activity and food intake. Where possible, the 2008 survey was compared to the findings in the 2003 data.

The key findings of the 2008 CAPANS report include that:

• less than half of Western Australian children interviewed met the recommended physical activity guidelines.
• secondary school girls were least active, with only 10% meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines.
• the majority of children reported participating in more than two hours of screen-based recreation on one or more days of the previous week.
• playing movement-based video games was the most popular active play activity reported by boys.
• the proportion of secondary school students using active transport from school has increased since 2003.
• overall consumption of fruit has increased since 2003, both in the proportion consumed and the amount consumed.
• 2 in 5 primary school students consume the recommended amount of vegetables, and 3 in 5 consume the recommended amount of fruit for their age.
• 1 in 5 secondary school students consume the recommended amount of fruit and a similar proportion consumes the recommended amount of vegetables for their age.

The CAPANS report also includes findings related to body size. Specifically, the level of overweight and obesity has not changed since 2003 with around one quarter of Western Australian children above a healthy weight.

Also of interest is that a significantly higher proportion of primary school girls were underweight in 2008 (9.9%) than in 2003 (4.2%) and a significantly higher proportion of secondary school girls were underweight in 2008 (9.4%) than in 2003 (5.5%).

For more information please visit the Physical Activity Taskforce website.

2003 CAPANS

The 2003 CAPANS main report indicates that the number of children who are obese or overweight had increased significantly.
A summary report of the CAPANS results and recommendations is also available.

    

Furthermore, students who do not develop a comprehensive range of Fundamental Movement Skills in their early childhood are likely to disengage from participation in physical activity due to low self-confidence.