Obesity among local kids rising

Wirihana Taare, 12, enjoys keeping fit and active at CrossFit Te Arawa. Photo/Ben Fraser

Children struggling with their weight is a growing problem in Rotorua with numbers higher than the national average.

Sugary food is one of the major causes of child obesity in Rotorua according to health experts.

Latest statistics from the Lakes District Health Board show nearly one in 11 local children aged from 2-14 were obese, with just over one fifth considered overweight.

Child obesity was definitely an issue in the region making them vulnerable to long-term health problems, Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service medical officer of health Dr Neil de Wet said.

"It's pretty much throughout the country, in New Zealand one in 10 children are considered obese and three in 10 children are considered overweight. "I think the real issue is not so much an obesity epidemic, we're seeing an increase right around the world, but the real issue we need to be looking at as a whole is the drivers. We have a sugar epidemic," Dr de Wet said.

"So many manufacturers and processed foods have added sugar, even many foods that look healthy. But the most important thing with child obesity to look at are the
sugary drinks. It's really surprising how much sugar can be in a drink. For example, 600ml may contain up to 16 teaspoons of sugar and many children would have that in a single serving. "We know that some studies have shown that children have one or more sugary drinks a day."

Dr de Wet recommended giving children water or plain milk instead to help tackle the issue.

Sports Bay of Plenty family lifestyle coach Buddy Meyer is currently working with 40 children and their families who have been referred to him by their GPs.

"The reason they have been referred is that they are showing indications of BMI [body mass index] as to be in the 95th percentile for their age. My role is to advise the children and hopefully have an influence on them and their entire family on nutrition, and the impact on them of the benefits of being active."

Wirihana Taare, 12, enjoys keeping fit and active at CrossFit Te Arawa. Photo/Ben Fraser

He said they also discussed the impact on screen time - television, computers, phones, gaming - and discussed being active in a wider sense at home and school, and not just through organised sports.

Mr Meyer said they worked with the family to try and influence healthier habits.

"The real area parents should consider is their involvement in their children's activity. Doing more activity-related things with their kids makes a massive difference," he said.

Last September, the Government gave a $2.5 million funding boost to run an obesity programme. Te Arawa Whanau Ora, in partnership with Kowhai Health Associates, has been selected to lead a $2.5 million anti-obesity initiative in Rotorua.

Under the umbrella of Te Arawa Whanau Ora, Healthy Families Rotorua have been working on supporting various social and health services and organisations to improve nutrition, increasing physical activity, smoking cessation and responsible alcohol consumption.

Chief executive Leanne Morehu said they were working with the Heart Foundation to connect them with early childhood education centres and kohanga reo who want to improve their awareness and knowledge of better nutrition.

"Our settings co-ordinator visits with ECEs and kohanga to understand what their needs are and where there might be gaps, so that we can connect them with a provider. "One of the biggest challenges families are faced with in Rotorua to fight obesity is poverty. "Other challenges include access to resources to assist them, as well as knowledge and education on how to live healthier lives."

CrossFit Te Arawa offers children and teen classes twice a week.

At their White St studio it was "all about the community," co-owner Carol Taite said.

"We wanted to involve the kids because they come here with their parents, and it's about offering something to kids that will help them keep them fit and healthy," Mrs Taite said.

Wirihana Taare, 12, has been doing classes for a few months with CrossFit Te Arawa.

"We'll run, do pull-ups -it's fun and gets you fit."