Child health has indeed been an issue to the Ministry of Health and a special program has been designed to ensure that the obesity rate is reduced.

Speaking to Fijivillage, Media Liaison Officer for the Ministry, Vasiiti Ritova said the program is a direct result of the results of a study conducted by the National Nutrition Centre along with the Ministry of Health which revealed that the obesity rate of children under the age of 18 has tripled when compared to results of an earlier study done in 1993.

The program piloted last week by the Ministry thru the Australian Government's assistance is especially designed for kids after the study revealed many parents send their kids to fast-food outlets and have unhealthy diets which are a huge contributor to the increase.

The Survey done in 2004 shows that relatively high proportions of Fijian Children in all age groups were overweight by weight 14.3% amongst the 0-4 age group and 18.2 for those in the 15-17 age group.

This has become a trend not only in Fiji where children under the age of 18 are seen to be overweight a problem but internationally as well, prompting the Minister of Education's call for action and the World Health Organisation to classify obesity as a disease thus the call by the Nutritional Centre for quick action.

The National Nutritional Centre stresses that if nothing is done than these children could fall victim to lifestyle diseases such as Diabetes and Heart Attacks.