Pattaya is tackling the growing problem of child obesity by educating students and teachers and getting youngsters to exercise.
Deputy Mayor Manote Nongyai opened the Feb. 21 workshop for 104 students, school nurses and teachers, stressing the need for public health personnel and schools in tackling child obesity.
Manote said about 6.4% of Pattaya public school students were considered obese. This is due to poor eating habits and a lack of exercise, he said.
Schools have launched a Smart Kids Leaders program to make role models out of students that lost weight through good nutrition and exercise.
At the workshop, kids were encouraged to learn and exercise at the same time, running between four “bases” with information on nutrition, growth and fun exercises.
Pediatrician Dr. Sutthicha Ungan from Pattaya Hospital and caregivers from Regional Health Promotion Centre 5 in Chonburi also spoke to the kids about the dangers of obesity, which range from physical ailments to sleeping problems and school bullying. (PCPR)
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