After school 'fat classes' (1 Viewer)

[Generator]

PM launches child health plan
June 29, 2004 - 10:44AM
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The federal government has committed $116 million to a four-year program to encourage Australian children to exercise more and improve their eating habits.

The building a healthy and active Australia package was announced in Tasmania today by Prime Minister John Howard.

Mr Howard said he hoped it would be a watershed in the process of encouraging Australians of all ages to indulge in physical activity and embrace healthy eating.

"Australia is a paradox when it comes to physical activity. There's nothing that binds us together as a nation quite like our love of sport, yet we have alarmingly high levels of obesity, with one in four Australians under the age of 18 suffering from it.

"The paradox of that sport-loving nation becoming increasingly less mobile and increasingly more obese is something that today's launch is designed to challenge."

The package includes $90 million to establish an after-school physical activity program for about 150,000 primary school children and $15 million for grants to community organisations linked with schools to promote healthy eating.
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"The aim of this program is to bring about a cultural change in the community," Mr Howard said.

AAP

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Yay for doing something about the problem, but wouldn't it make more sense to carry out a media campaign that sought to educate the parents? Afterall, they are the people who feed the kids (most mums and dads do this, anyway) and determine what activities they participate in.

 

[Enlightened_One]

Yeah, but if it's not mandatory then the really fat and lazy kids won't participate anyway.

I guess it's a bit of a solution. Perhpas finacial rewards for parents might work. I mean if they think they can make people have babies for money, maybe they can get them to raise kids healthily for money.

 

[Loz#1]

If they're calling them "fat classes", don't expect many participants Mr Howard.

 

[Generator]

I called them 'fat classes'... I was trying to get people to picture the fat camps that seem so popular in the USA.

 

[cro_angel]

but dont most schools already have co-curricular sports which you can participate in like touch football after school or netball on saturdays etc..
they r making it sound like no one plays sport with their school anymore

 

[Generator]

I had a little paragraph on the current role of teachers with regards to nutrition and physical education, but I took that bit out for fear of creating another debate over the role(s) and responsibilities of teachers.

Re. Howard's proposals, I think it is the fact that not every state has such programmes in place. NSW does (within the public sector, anyway).

 

[.:b-me:.]

oh my goodness. stop feeding kids fatty food, make them go for a walk every day. its not that hard. we're all too spoilt with food choices these days.

parents do have a massive input in the obesity problem. so many parents (esp. curry) are worried if their kids arent little michelin men. its ridiculous. parents need to be taught that fat does not equal healthy.

 

[braindrainedAsh]

Can someone tell me where the quarter of overweight kids live? It certainly isn't here!!!!

But once again, this is Howard creating a policy about something that is already in place in most places (e.g. flags, 2 hours sport a week) in order to look like he is actually doing something.

 

[asha_ramirez]

Originally posted by .:b-me:.
oh my goodness. stop feeding kids fatty food, make them go for a walk every day. its not that hard. we're all too spoilt with food choices these days.

parents do have a massive input in the obesity problem. so many parents (esp. curry) are worried if their kids arent little michelin men. its ridiculous. parents need to be taught that fat does not equal healthy.

I agree, parents should feed their kids healthy food, I have a 7 year old brother.. well my dads partners son who I consider a brother, who has a high intake of fast food and a lack of exercise.

An issue that should be adressed is the impact of fast food, and the lack of exercise - in this case, which is directly derived from a high interest in technology, well play station and computer games, and the decline in physical activity... decline in interest in sport etc.

McDonalds effort to include a salads plus menu is BS. Kids, and teenagers should have a higher intake of healthy food. With children this is directly linked to their parents who feed them, with teenagers, who have more of a say in what they eat, maybe they should eat real meals instead of fast-food substitutes.

 

[lengstar]

look, i rarely ever have any greens and i'm fit as it is. don't take anyway my fish and chips i eat that in moderation. if its fast fod stuff yeah capmaign against it but i deplore salads. they taste like crap.

 

[asha_ramirez]

Originally posted by lengstar
look, i rarely ever have any greens and i'm fit as it is. don't take anyway my fish and chips i eat that in moderation. if its fast fod stuff yeah capmaign against it but i deplore salads. they taste like crap.

Lol I agree... I mean w-t-f... lettuce? Is it supposed to taste good?
I don't see how! I'm all for eating healthy... but don't take away my fish and chips either! I'll start a save the fish and chips campaign if I have to!

 

[lucky]

finally they have some bloody fitness class.. !!!!!

about time the aust. govt. realised that most of the bloody kids at school are like overweight.. !~

 

[Generator]

It is not a case of finally in NSW... Besides, why should it be a fitness class and not a walk to school programme?

 

[Xayma]

Originally posted by braindrainedAsh
Can someone tell me where the quarter of overweight kids live? It certainly isn't here!!!!

But once again, this is Howard creating a policy about something that is already in place in most places (e.g. flags, 2 hours sport a week) in order to look like he is actually doing something.

Yeah I was wondering that myself, when it was something like a quarter of kids are overweight, looking around my school 10% would be lucky to be overweight, and thats just going off those who might be on the boundary.

 

[iambored]

Originally posted by asha_ramirez
McDonalds effort to include a salads plus menu is BS.

no it isn't at least if you go to maccas there's something healthy there, you don't have to get a burger

 

[Rorix]

Did you all do that fitness testing in earlier years of high school? I think that's where they get those statistics from..

 

[asha_ramirez]

Originally posted by iambored
no it isn't at least if you go to maccas there's something healthy there, you don't have to get a burger

Why go to McDonalds at all? As if the 'salads plus menu' is entirely healthy anyway? Please... it's still fast food, I don't care what 'menu' it is on.

 

[santaslayer]

The salads plus menu is proven to be less fat, but it makes up for it in the sugar/salt content.

 

[owoodley]

And what about the 'fat-tax'.... lol, that was a sure winner.

 

[Generator]

SMH Heckler a few days ago.
"...
Boys, no need for chocolate, flowers and "getting to know you" crap. More sport equals more sex. All students want that. They'll line up to run around the block.
...
Sport makes you sexy. It even works for adults."

I now know what I must do...