New research has found stomach obesity in Indigenous children is increasing at double the rate of their non-Indigenous peers.
The study was conducted in New South Wales schools by the University of Sydney and measured the height-to-waist ratios of children aged five to 17 over a 13-year period.
While the study found there were no significant differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal kids' weight, there was when it came to their circumference.
Researcher Dr Blythe O'Hara says weight around stomachs can cause serious health problems.
"[It] puts them at risk of things like cardio-metabolic ill health, so things like cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions that can come later on in life," she said.
The study also found Indigenous children were more likely to have bad eating habits.
"Thirty-five per cent of non-Aboriginal kids compared to 50 per cent of Aboriginal kids ate dinner in front of the television at night," Dr Blythe said.
"Fifty per cent of non-Aboriginal kids compared to 60 per cent of Aboriginal kids were rewarded for good behaviour with sugary drinks or sugary foods.
"Non-Aboriginal children were more likely to have breakfast everyday than Indigenous children."