The NaSSDA survey was established by Cancer Council Australia and coordinated by the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer at Cancer Council Victoria. It filled a significant gap in Australian data by providing a coordinated national approach to the monitoring of secondary students’ diet and physical activity, as well as their exposure to food marketing. Nationally representative cross-sectional samples of Australian secondary school students in year levels 8 to 11 (ages 12 to 17 years) were surveyed in 2009/10 (N=13,790 from 238 schools), 2012/13 (N=10,309 from 196 schools) and 2018 (N=9,102 from 104 schools). Research output arising from the NaSSDA survey are available below.
Publications
Gascoyne C, Scully M, Morley B. Is food and drink advertising across various settings associated with dietary choices and intake among Australian adolescents? Findings from a national cross-sectional survey. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2024; 35(4): 1386-92.
Gascoyne C, Scully M, Wakefield M, Morley B. Potential impact of the adult-targeted LiveLighter® ‘Sugary Drinks’ campaign on adolescent consumption: findings from a national cross-sectional school survey. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2023; 34(4): 759-64.
Chen YJM, Haynes A, Scully M, Gascoyne C, McAleese A, Dixon H, Morley B, Wakefield M. Food purchasing practices in various retail settings and dietary intake: a cross-sectional survey of Australian adolescents. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2023; 34(4): 784-90.
Miller C, Dono J, Scully M, Morley B, Ettridge K. Adolescents’ knowledge and beliefs regarding health risks of soda and diet soda consumption. Public Health Nutrition 2022; 25: 3044-53.
Scully M, Gascoyne C, Wakefield M, Morley B. Prevalence and trends in Australian adolescents’ adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines: findings from a repeated national cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health 2022; 22: 105.
Nuss T, Morley B, Scully M, Wakefield M. Energy drink consumption among Australian adolescents associated with a cluster of unhealthy dietary behaviours and short sleep duration. Nutrition Journal 2021; 20: 64.
Gascoyne C, Scully M, Wakefield M, Morley B. Food marketing on social media and dietary intake in Australian adolescents: findings from a cross-sectional survey. Appetite 2021; 166: 105431.
Miller C, Dono J, Scully M, Morley B, Ettridge K. Adolescents report low opposition towards policy options to reduce consumption of sugary drinks. Pediatric Obesity 2021; 16: e12775.
Haynes A, Morley B, Dixon H, Scully M, McAleese A, Gascoyne C, Busbridge R, Cigognini M, Regev I, Wakefield M. Secondary school canteens in Australia: analysis of canteen menus from a repeated cross-sectional national survey. Public Health Nutrition 2021; 24(4): 696-705
- Scully M, Morley B, Niven P, Crawford D, Pratt I, Wakefield M, for the NaSSDA Study Team. Factors associated with frequent consumption of fast food among Australian secondary school students. Public Health Nutrition 2020; 23: 1340-9.
- Jongenelis M, Scully M, Morley B, Pratt S. Vegetable and fruit intake in Australian adolescents: Trends over time and perceptions of consumption. Appetite 2018; 129: 49-54.
- Jongenelis MI, Scully M, Morley B, Pratt IS, Slevin T. Physical activity and screen-based recreation: Prevalences and trends over time among adolescents and barriers to recommended engagement. Preventive Medicine 2018; 106: 66-72
- Scully M, Morley B, Niven P, Crawford D, Pratt IS, Wakefield M, for the NaSSDA Study Team. Factors associated with high consumption of soft drinks among Australian secondary school students. Public Health Nutrition 2017; 20 (13): 2340-8.
- Niven P, Scully M, Morley B, Baur L, Crawford D, Pratt IS, Wakefield M. What factors are associated with frequent unhealthy snack-food consumption among Australian secondary-school students? Public Health Nutrition 2014; 2: 1-8.
- Niven P, Scully M, Morley B, Crawford D, Baur LA, Wakefield M. Socio-economic disparities in Australian adolescents' eating behaviours. Public Health Nutrition 2014; 17 (12): 2753-8.
- Vella SA, Cliff DP, Okely AD, Scully ML, Morley BC. Associations between sports participation, adiposity and obesity-related health behaviors in adolescents. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2013; 10: 113.
- Morley B, Scully M, Niven P, Baur LA, Crawford D, Flood V, Okely AD, Pratt IS, Salmon J, Wakefield M. Prevalence and socio-demographic distribution of eating, physical activity and sedentary behaviours among Australian adolescents. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2012 23 (3): 213-8.
- Scully M, Morley B, Niven P, Pratt IS, Okely AD, Wakefield M, for the NaSSDA Study Team. Overweight/obesity, physical activity and diet among Australian secondary students - first national dataset 2009-10. Cancer Forum 2012; 36 (1): 17-20.
- Morley B, Scully ML, Niven PH, Okely AD, Baur LA, Pratt IS, Wakefield MA, NaSSDA Study Team. What factors are associated with excess body weight in Australian secondary school students? Medical Journal of Australia 2012; 196 (3): 189-192.
- Scully M, Wakefield M, Niven P, Chapman K, Crawford D, Pratt IS, Baur LA, Flood V, Morley B; NaSSDA Study Team. Association between food marketing exposure and adolescents' food choices and eating behaviors. Appetite 2012; 58 (1): 1-5.
- Haynes A, Morley B, Dixon H, Scully M, McAleese A, Gascoyne C, Busbridge R, Cicognini M, Regev I, Wakefield M. Secondary school canteens in Australia: analysis of canteen menus from a repeated cross-sectional national survey. Public Health Nutrition 2020; doi
Funding
The 2009/10 NaSSDA survey was jointly funded by Cancer Council Australia and the National Heart Foundation of Australia. In 2012/13, additional funding was received from State and Territory Government Health Departments. The 2018 survey round was primarily funded by Cancer Council Australia with additional funding support provided by the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.