Some interesting statistics

"Overweight and obesity are the 7th leading predicted cause of avoidable global disease burden of 2010 and 2020" (WHO, 2002). Of major concern is the fact that the Pacific region has some of the highest rates of obesity in the world. Although there has been some interventionist research into obesity in primary aged children, the positive results have been short term and modest. Much effective and sustained intervention is required to make a lasting effect (Utter et al., 2008).

Recent research data for students in New Zealand aged 12 - 18 years old:

• 26% female and 28% males were obese

• 32% females and 31% males were overweight

Food and nutrition behaviours identified:

• More than 15% of students in NZ said they do not usually eat breakfast
• The school canteen/tuckshop was the primary source of lunch for nearly a half of NZ students
• Nearly 20% of students eat takeaways more than twice per week
• +- 30% of students in Fiji, NZ and Tonga drank soft drinks on 4 or 5 days in the past 5 school days
• About 40% of students in NZ watched TV for 2 or more hours per day
• On average nearly 50% of students have potato crisps available to eat at home most of the time