Sydney Or The Bush, Youth Need Exercise That Is Fun

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday August 14, 2006

It is not just the cities that are causing the malaise of modern Australian society, because the bush does little better in health outcomes of young people ("Our cities are killing us", August 12-13).

A part of the problem is the nature of competitive sport in this country, where most young people over the age of 14 just give up on sport unless they can compete at an elite level. From then on, their fitness and accompanying weight gain goes to hell in a handbasket.

We need comprehensive government-run exercise programs that are non-competitive but fun. Walking to school could be the start of a big nationwide change.

Dr Raymond Seidler Kings Cross

Your weekend article highlights the immense problem of the obesity epidemic. There has been much talk on this by learned bodies and government over the past few years but surely the time for talking is over.

The remedy for each obese individual rests squarely in that person's hands. You can take a horse to the water, but you can't make him shrink.

It is incumbent on communities to run healthy weight-loss and eating programs, and to encourage maximum participation, as it is easier to lose weight and eat better in a group than alone.

If small towns like Wellington and Tenterfield can each lose more than a collective tonne in weight in about three months, surely the municipalities of Sydney can get themselves organised to get people off their fat butts.

Ian Unsworth Tenterfield

Your article on the link between childhood obesity and town planning was very interesting. However, the plural of cul-de-sac is, in fact, culs-de-sac not cul-de-sacs. It took a five-year town planning degree and a few thousand dollars in HECS for me to be able to use that little gem to win a couple of pub trivia nights.

Monique Darcy Davidson

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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