Government launches 'get fit' initiative for young people

The government has launched a new initiative aimed at getting young people fit and active.

The 'Fit Futures: Focus on Food, Activity and Young People’ strategy aims to help develop ideas for improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Northern Ireland.

New research has revealed worrying levels of obesity in primary one school children, with one-in-five boys and one-in-four girls being classified as overweight or obese.

Health Minister Angela Smith said: “Fit Futures is an attempt to involve and engage with those that know best about what can be done to encourage and support children and young people to be more active and to eat a healthy, balanced diet.

“Obesity is one of the most serious challenges to the long-term health of our population. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of Northern Ireland’s biggest killer diseases - coronary heart disease and cancer - as well as diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. It can also have very direct impacts on the self-esteem and emotional wellbeing of children and young people."

The Minister said the new initiative would concentrate on tackling the underlying causes of obesity, namely inappropriate eating patterns and food intake and insufficient physical activity.

It will also involve speaking directly to over 300 children and young people and a similar number of parents about what can be done to improve activity levels and eating habits in children and young people.

In addition, the Minister will be writing to policy makers and practitioners throughout government and its agencies and to community, voluntary and business interests seeking their views and encouraging involvement in the Fit Futures taskforce.

(MB)