THE Federal Government today committed $116 million to a four-year program to encourage Australian children to exercise more and improve their eating habits.
The building a healthy and active Australia package was announced in Tasmania this morning by Prime Minister John Howard.
He said he hoped it would be a watershed in the process of encouraging Australians of all ages to indulge in physical activity and embrace healthy eating.
"Australia is a paradox when it comes to physical activity," he said.
"There's nothing that binds us together as a nation quite like our love of sport, yet we have alarmingly high levels of obesity, with one in four Australians under the age of 18 suffering from it.
"The paradox of that sport-loving nation becoming increasingly less mobile and increasingly more obese is something that today's launch is designed to challenge."
The package includes $90 million to establish an after-school physical activity program for about 150,000 primary school children.
There will also be $15 million for grants to community organisations linked with schools to promote healthy eating.
"The aim of this program is to bring about a cultural change in the community," Mr Howard said.