New school fitness program energises obesity fight
BEN WAY
16jun06
A PROGRAM targeting childhood obesity in at least 20 schools in low socio-economic areas in South Australia will begin in August this year.
The Fit2Play program, funded by The Queen Elizabeth Research Foundation and the Gift for Dreams Foundation, aims to improve children's attitudes toward physical activity, healthy food choices and to create a more active lifestyle.
Fit2Play founder Michael Georgalli said yesterday the program had similarities to the Jamie Oliver-driven better food initiative in the UK.
"If you take junk foods from school tuckshop menus the children will find it somewhere else," Mr Georgalli said. "We are not banning foods, we are changing their buying habits."
A pilot program at Trinity College in Adelaide had shown a 14 per cent rise in the level of physical activity in children's free time and a 40 per cent reduction in the average weekly hours of sedentary behaviour, such as watching television.
"I am speaking to more than 150 teachers from 28 schools this week and they will introduce the program to in excess of 5500 students," Mr Georgalli said. "Our strategic plan is to implement the program into all SA schools within three years.
"We aim to motivate children to learn the benefits of healthy eating so that there can be sustainable behavioural change."
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