Battle of bulge victors hailed

By REBECCA WALSH

Dayton Martin-Grigg used to sit and watch the other kids run round at lunchtime.

Now the Manukau 8-year-old - one of about 40 children involved in the Kids in Action Pasefika Challenge - has the energy and confidence to join in.

"The thing I like the most is the basketball, losing weight and making friends," the Everglade School pupil told a special gathering of friends and family yesterday.

For the past six weeks Dayton has spent his Wednesday afternoons at Otahuhu College, learning how to live a healthier lifestyle. Yesterday, his efforts - he has lost 4kg - were recognised at a prizegiving ceremony attended by former All Black Michael Jones.

The Kids in Action programme, run by South Seas Healthcare, was set up last year to help overweight or obese children. It is one of a growing number of community initiatives designed to tackle the obesity epidemic - about one in three New Zealand children is overweight or obese.

The South Auckland programme involves a nurse, doctor, dietitian and exercise instructors who work with the children and their families.

Last year, nearly three-quarters of the 71 children, aged between 4 and 16, who took part either lost or maintained their goal weight.

Paediatrician Dr Teuila Percival said about a quarter of the children involved had health complications as a result of their weight, from high blood pressure to obstructive sleep apnoea. Many were pre-diabetic.

"At the very best, if we can intervene with just one of these children we can delay or even prevent diabetes."

For nurse and team leader Christina Tapu, the programme is also about building the children's confidence and self-esteem.

She points to one girl who has lost 28kg (from 112kg to 84kg) since last year. "She's more positive, forthcoming and bright. Before she was always tired and breathless."

Yesterday, Michael Jones told the children they were all heroes for sticking with the programme, even when there might be a television show they would rather be watching at home.

He said he was lucky his mother, a teacher, had encouraged him to eat well. "She knew that to get the best out of me, to learn, to listen in class and be the best I could be on the sportsfield, I needed to be healthy."

But Mr Jones added that ultimately it came down to him, and he urged the children to aim high, give it their best and never give up.

For Dayton, saying goodbye to takeaways and fizzy drinks has not always been easy but he intends to stick with it because he feels good.

His advice for others:"Just come on, don't be afraid. It doesn't hurt to lose weight."

How fat are we?

The 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey found about 60 per cent of Pacific Island and 40 per cent of Maori children were overweight or obese, compared with 24 per cent of European and other children.