Child health check push
A Sax Institute note says only about 28% of children meet recommended diet guidelines and 17% meet physical activity targets, prompting calls for routine GP checks to catch risks early. (x.com). The recommendation links diet and activity shortfalls to more proactive primary‑care screening for kids. (x.com)
Australian researchers are urging more routine child health checks in general practice after a Sax Institute-backed evidence review found large gaps in diet, movement and growth screening in primary care. (sciencedirect.com) The review, published in the *Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health* in 2025, said Australian primary health care guidelines for children under 5 cover growth and development well but are less consistent on screening health behaviours such as diet, physical activity, sleep and screen time. (sciencedirect.com) That push lands as Australian government advice says children and young people aged 5 to 17 should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day, plus muscle- and bone-strengthening activity on at least three days a week. Recreational screen time should be limited to no more than two hours a day. (health.gov.au) Australia already has a routine check system for younger children. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says scheduled checks generally run from birth through age 4, with visits around 1 to 4 weeks, 6 to 8 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, then ages 1, 18 months, 2, 3 and 4. (pregnancybirthbaby.org.au) The gap is what happens around those visits and after age 5. The 2025 review said there is room for primary care guidelines to better integrate short screening tools for diet, activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep into routine practice. (sciencedirect.com) The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ preventive care guide already frames general practice as a place for primary prevention and early detection across childhood and adolescence. Its guidance says prevention and health promotion in the early years are important for lifelong health and wellbeing. (racgp.org.au) The case for earlier checks is also tied to rising weight-related risk. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says 26% of children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 were living with overweight or obesity in 2022, and the figure for ages 5 to 17 rose to 28%, up from 25% in 2017–18. (aihw.gov.au) Diet guidance is already on the books. The Australian Dietary Guidelines say children should eat a wide variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups, and the guidelines are intended to reduce the risk of chronic health problems including obesity. (health.gov.au) For families, the change being discussed is not a new diagnosis program as much as a more regular check-in: height, weight, development, feeding, movement, sleep and screen habits assessed before problems become harder to reverse. (pregnancybirthbaby.org.au)
