Australian Prime Minister John Howard has unveiled a multi-million dollar plan to tackle childhood obesity, including funding for after-school physical activities for about 150,000 children.
Mr Howard has detailed the $116 million package while launching a healthy lifestyle forum in Launceston.
Education authorities will require schools to include at least two hours of physical activity per week for primary and junior high school students.
Mr Howard says there are about 1.5 million Australians under 18 who are overweight or obese, putting them at risk of preventable conditions such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
"The paradox of that sports-loving nation becoming increasingly less mobile and increasingly more obese is something that today's launch is designed to challenge," he said.
As well as the focus on exercise, the federal package will fund programs promoting healthy eating.
This will include $15 million in grants to community organisations linked to schools that encourage balanced eating.