A PILOT programme for overweight children has been created and is being offered to local schoolkids.

The P.H.A.S.T. (Promoting Health at Any Size Today) Programme is just what the island needs, according to Norbert Simons, co-ordinator of camping and summer day camp for the Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation.

The proof lay in the Teen Wellness Survey, a joint study conducted by the Departments of Health and Education last year, which found more than a quarter of the island's teenagers at an unhealthy body weight, he said, but that statistic was probably even higher.

It was with that in mind, coupled with the fact that many parents lacked the necessary skills and/or time to cope and schools were often ill-equipped to meet the need, that Mr. Simons and a group of teachers involved in his Department's annual summer programme, came up with P.H.A.S.T.

"Most of the people involved in our summer day programme are teachers, some are even physical education teachers, and we realised there was not enough going on in the schools to help students who were in need of advice about their weight; about their health," he explained. "We wanted to assist."

Registration ends today for the P.H.A.S.T. Programme which starts next month and is designed to do more than simply help kids lose weight. As part of their aims, its organisers are hoping to increase participants' physical fitness, to educate them on nutritious food choices and to build their self-confidence.

"Obesity among the young is a combination of many things," Mr. Simons added. "There are so many things that affect us. We live in an affluent society; we live in a technological age. Affluency brings laziness. Children are not expected to be active and creative. Everything comes in an instant; everything is done in front of the computer. And with increased development, our (outdoor) space is limited.

"Our time is limited. There are some families where both parents are working two or three jobs. They don't have time to plan meals properly. It's cheaper to buy fast foods than vegetables. Most of us have a problem eating properly and what we hope is to change lifestyles and habits over the long term.

"We don't intend to just look at people who are obviously overweight. It's about diet. It's about attitude. While some problems may be biological, some may be psychological also and because of that, we will need to address self-confidence levels as well."

Released last year, the Teen Wellness Survey was the first to document the state of health of Bermuda's teens. Included among its findings - a quarter of the island's teenage population is overweight; 36 percent met the aerobic fitness norms for their age group; 27 percent had little or no daily physical activity; 21 percent ate fast food three or four times a week and 25 percent had three or more servings of fats and / or fried foods per day.

"This is probably the largest single study that looked at the teen population in Bermuda," reported the Health Department's former Health Promotion Co-ordinator, Leonard Gibbons, at the time. "It's not like we did a study ten years ago and can see an increase or a decrease. This is a starting point from which we can see whether or not there are any existing trends and which can give a true picture of where we are now.

"We need to target specific behaviours ... following the example of their parents has a lot to do with the eating habits children acquire while they are young. If we can interfere at an early age so they acquire healthy habits while they are young, we will see a healthier population. It has a lot to do with what is passed on to us by virtue of our parents."

Mr. Simons agreed, saying that in order for the programme to be successful, it would be necessary for its instructors to consider a child's complete environment.

"We want parents to be involved as we may have to change the attitudes of parents as well," he said. "We have to look at the entire picture; include every aspect of their surroundings - their school, their home and their play.

"That's why, initially, we're looking to limit the number to approximately 25 students. We want to start out with a small group so we can offer them one-on-one instruction with one of our counsellors once or twice a week. They'll also be doing things with their teachers in PE classes and we will be encouraging parents to do activities with them also. Our goal is to see them active three or four times a week."

The P.H.A.S.T. programme will be introduced into the Department's summer day camp programme next year if it is a success, Mr. Simons added.

"Our goal at the end of the day is to work with the Department of Education and we're hoping if it works, they can take it over."

Registration for the programme, open to students between the ages of nine and 15, ends today. To register, parents must collect and fill out a form from the Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation. If accepted, there is a $100 membership fee for each child which includes any necessary equipment. For more information, interested parents should contact Mr. Simons at 295-0855.