New program helps children live healthy lifestyle

Queensland Health is leading a $49 million package of initiatives to help children and young teenagers stamp out chronic disease.

With more than one in four Queensland children now overweight or obese, the Healthy Children program aims to empower children and young people to make positive and healthy lifestyle choices. 

During National Children’s Week, Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said the package of initiatives was aimed at all Queensland children and young teenagers, as well as specific groups that need an extra hand.

“The Healthy Children program includes 13 initiatives across government and in partnership with many external organisations to improve the nutrition and physical activity of children,” Mr Springborg said.

“I am passionate about ensuring all young Queenslanders have access to the best health services.

“Preventative health measures are central to providing quality health care and services to all Queenslanders.

“The Good Start program is one of the many initiatives aimed at improving nutrition and physical activity in children.

“The Good Start program for Maori and Pacific Islander children employs seven part-time multicultural health workers to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity among kids. 

“Another initiative, the Trim Kids project, aims to support families to adopt healthy lifestyles and promote healthy weight through sustained behavioural change.”

The Healthy Children program is a joint Federal and State Government initiative under the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health which brings together government agencies and community organisations to help children live a healthy lifestyle.

“We all want to give our children the very best start. Good nutrition and physical activity sound simple enough, but really are so important to get right,” he said.

“Families have such busy lifestyles today, so we’re working with all the people involved in caring for children to make sure that, right through the day, wherever they are, children are exposed to healthy messages about nutrition and physical activity.

“For our youngest kids, we’re giving kindy, childcare and family day care workers the skills to teach children and parents healthy behaviours using fun, play-based activities.

“We’re training staff at before and after school care centres about nutrition and physical activity.

“Other programs encourage kids to be active on the way to school and at school as well as having access to nutritious food for school lunches.

“Too many Queenslanders are developing chronic diseases, which for the most part are preventable through good nutrition and physical activity.

“In fact, high body mass has overtaken smoking as the largest single contributing risk factor (8.5 per cent) to the burden of disease and injury in Queensland.

“It’s estimated 60 new cases of type 2 diabetes are diagnosed every day in Queensland.

“By working together, we can help children establish healthy habits that will stand them in good stead right through their lives.”

Queensland will receive $49 million over seven years from the Commonwealth for the Healthy Children initiative under the National Health Reform Agreement — National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health.

[ENDS] 26 October 2012

Media contact: Clare Mildren 0417 255 284