Facts you should know

The Need for increased physical activity (exercise) at all ages is becoming more evident. Here's what recent studies and health experts say:

• One third of school-age children in New Zealand are overweight (about 250,000 children)
  
• New Zealand is ranked number seven in an OECD league of the world’s most obese nations.
  
• 96 per cent of primary-age pupils failed to perform 12 fundamental physical movement skills including basic activities such as running, jumping and catching. (Ministry of Education and Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) Pilot Project 2004)
  
• Children are spending too much time watching television and playing computer games instead of getting the exercise they need for essential bone growth and development. Symptoms of inactivity include obesity and susceptibility to injury. ( Otago University School of Medical Research 2000)
  
• The health and physical education curriculum is as important as numeracy and literacy. (Get Set For an Active New Zealand Report 2001- NZ Government Taskforce)
  
• New Zealanders need to get active - drastic action is imperative to beat the economic and health costs including deaths from coronary disease, colon cancer and diabetes, attributed to inactivity. (Get Set For an Active New Zealand Report 2001- NZ Government Taskforce)