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NZ Obesity Rating Adds Weight to Calypso's Cause

NZ Obesity Rating Adds Weight to Calypso's Cause

The recent announcement that New Zealand is the third fattest country in the world came as a shock to many this week, but not to youth fitness specialist Leigh Ashton.

What worries Mrs Ashton most are the findings relating specifically to young New Zealanders. The statistics indicate that 33.6% of 11 to 14 year olds, and 27% of 15 to 18 year olds, are considered
overweight or obese.
(Hohepa M, Schofield G, Kolt G. Division of Sport and Recreation, Faculty of Health, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.)

Mr Ashton says "Many medical and exercise professionals have warned of the youth obesity problem, but significant changes are not being made."

It is Mrs Ashton's opinion that health promotion initiates are not the prevailing issue.

"People know what is healthy or unhealthy, it is taking action that the majority struggle with. Humans are great at making excuses."

"It is very important to recognise that people are unlikely to participate in things they don't feel capable of."

"Health promotion is great for encouraging people to be healthier, but unless we give people the skills and confidence to actually do it there will be limited success."

"Sports are great for kids to be regularly active, but can also be intimidating and not much fun for overweight and inactive kids. We need to provide opportunities for these kids to develop skills and build a base of fitness, and focus on self-improvement rather than peer comparison."

Mrs Ashton is the director of the new youth fitness centre Calypso Sports & Fitness, who alongside their sports performance programmes are also currently liasing with Harbour Sport's Active Families programme on how to best serve the special needs of overweight and inactive kids.

"As a country we need to stop talking about these problems, and take action to fix them."

ENDS

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