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Territory-wide "StartSmart@school.hk Campaign" launched (with photos)
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     The territory-wide "StartSmart@school.hk Campaign", organised by the Department of Health (DH) in joint effort with the Education Bureau (EDB) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), was launched today (January 11) to promote healthy eating and physical activity among preschoolers to prevent childhood obesity.

     Speaking at the launch ceremony today, the Director of Health, Dr P Y Lam, said that childhood obesity has become a growing threat among Hong Kong children, with one in every six primary one students now overweight. This shows that the problem may have already emerged before children enter primary school.

     "The most effective way to combat the growing threat of childhood obesity is to develop healthy lifestyles and habits from early childhood," he said.

     Noting that multi-sectoral and integrated efforts are essential to combat childhood obesity, Dr Lam gave special recognition to supporters of the Campaign, including the EDB, the LCSD and stakeholders in pre-primary education and child health.

     The StartSmart@school.hk Campaign is built on the positive experience of a pilot project conducted in the 2010/11 school year. A total of 30 pre-primary institutions were invited to participate in the pilot project, which sought to cultivate a healthy lifestyle by promoting healthy eating and active living habits among young children in the school setting.

     Under the Campaign, pre-primary school personnel will be encouraged to make use of the DH's latest nutritional and physical activity guidelines and recommendations, experience-sharing publications, online resources and workshops to formulate school policies and devise innovative activities for students that contribute to good habit formation.

     Parental involvement and family influence are equally important for the success of child health promotion. Parent newsletters, information leaflets and home-based  student activities will be provided to support home-school co-operation.

     More information about the Campaign can be found on its thematic website at ( www.startsmart.gov.hk ).

Ends/Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:03

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