Obesity rates in children world-wide are burgeoning, and those attending childcare are more at risk. Now a new Massey University study hopes to discover information that may help design interventions offering simple, practical and relevant tips for early childhood education (ECE) teachers about nutrition and physical activity for pre-schoolers.
Activity trackers have been placed on toddlers as part of a pioneering research programme in early learning centres aimed at tackling New Zealand's childhood obesity epidemic.
International research shows that children with better motor skills have improved academic and cognitive abilities and also enhanced physical activity levels as adolescents and adults.
New Zealand is currently ranked third in the OECD with 26.5 per cent of the adult population deemed obese. But the worrying trend is that, at 28.5 per cent, the percentage of New Zealand children aged two to 14 years in the obese category is even higher.