This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Motherwell school meets healthy living challenge
06/03/2006
A Motherwell school has been praised for taking the health improvement message to heart.
Today Health Minister Andy Kerr launched Dalziel High School's 12th Annual Health Fayre.
This year's programme - 'Be All You Can Be' - features a range of healthy eating and physical activities to encourage pupils, staff and parents to adopt healthier lifestyles.
As well as sampling healthy food and trying their hand at basketball, rowing and dance, pupils will be able to learn about the wider aspects of good health from information stalls.
Mr Kerr said:
"It's great to visit schools like Dalziel High School which have put health improvement right at the heart of everything they do.
"This is their 12th Annual Health Fayre - that says a lot about how dedicated the school has been and continues to be about this important issue. It is also a good week to focus on health promotion with No Smoking Day coming up on 8 March.
"Many Scots face serious health risks because we do not eat healthily and we are not active enough. Latest figures show that 30 percent of girls are overweight or obese and for boys the figure is even higher.
"While the statistics are frightening, there is good news. This week is all about getting involved and having fun. By taking the right steps now, you can certainly 'Be All You Can Be."
For good health, it is recommended that young people have at least one hour of moderate activity every day. The Scottish Executive aims for 80 percent to achieve this by 2022, through initiatives such as the Active Schools Network. The network employs over 600 local co-ordinators who are working to develop new ways to encourage young people to become more active.
The Executive are addressing healthy eating with the help of school catering services and local authorities through Hungry for Success. This programme sets standards to ensure school meals are nutritionally balanced. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has described Hungry for Success as "revolutionary".