26 October 2017

Local kids ditching junk food for exercise

Thousands of Wellington kids are getting fitter and healthier thanks to local efforts to curb childhood obesity across the region.

Thanks to Project Energize Wellington more and more kids are getting active, eating healthier foods, and consuming less junk food than last year.

The programme enables ‘Energizers’ to work with schools, teachers and parents to coordinate and deliver physical activity sessions, nutritional advice and help implement health and fitness programmes within primary schools.

“The project continues to go from strength to strength, and is doing a great job helping our children and families to thrive,” said strategy, innovation and performance executive director Rachel Haggerty.

“Latest figures from the project show that hundreds more children are eating breakfast every day, drinking more water, and taking part in more physical activity at school. At the same time, the number of children eating junk food and consuming fizzy drinks has dropped significantly.”

Other improvements include fewer children buying fast foods or takeaways, and drinking less sugary fruit juices – great news for the Heart Foundation, which delivers Project Energize in schools on behalf of Capital & Coast DHB.

“We’re really excited to see these results. They show Project Energize is having a positive impact on students in Wellington, and setting the scene for a healthier future,” said Heart Foundation education setting manager Justine Munro.

Sport Waikato launched Project Energize in 2005 – funded by Waikato DHB – and it is now in schools across the Waikato, Northland and Wellington regions. Sport Waikato CEO Matthew Cooper was pleased by the latest results.

“It’s great to see DHBs taking a lead in improving the health of our tamariki. Project Energize empowers our people to help them form good lifelong health habits from an early age,” he said

ends

© Scoop Media