June 2003

Pilot acts to prevent obesity

A grass roots project launched in Colac by Minister for Health Bronwyn Pike will help tackle the growing problems associated with obesity.

Be Active, Eat Well: Making it Easy is a $340,000 three-year project funded by the Victorian Government.

It involves collaboration between Colac-Otway Shire, Colac Area Health, local schools and the community.

‘A range of physical activity and nutrition programs will be tested in a number of settings such as food outlets, neighbourhoods, schools and pre-schools.

‘The program intends to help Colac children aged between two and 12 be active and will involve parents, schools, childcare centres, GPs, recreation services and the local media.

‘The best way of finding out what works is to collect evidence in demonstration projects like this one in Colac.

‘While the problems presented by obesity are well known, there is a shortage of evidence about specific programs that are effective in preventing obesity.’

Deakin University’s Physical Activity and Nutrition Unit will be working with the community to ensure progress and achievements are well documented and evaluated.

‘One goal is to decrease by 10 per cent the amount of time children spend in front of screens—either watching TV or playing computer or electronic games,’ Ms Pike said.

‘Many experts and parents see a direct correlation between the rising obesity of our children and the rising amount of ‘screen time’ many of them have.

‘Getting more children to walk to school is one of the strategies and a ‘walking school bus’ is in the planning stages.

‘Helping children to ‘eat well’ is another primary goal through a fall of 10 per cent in the consumption of high sugar drinks and energy-dense snack foods.

‘At the same time, we want to see children eating on average about one more piece of fruit per week.

‘This is only one part of what our government will be spending on the problem of obesity in the coming years.

‘The Budget announced earlier this month includes $10 million over four years for the prevention of obesity and diabetes,’ Ms Pike said.