The prime minister Tonga has challenged leaders other Pacific nations to lose weight. He is asking them to join the fight obesity taking part in a one-year-long weight loss challenge. The prime minister, Akilisi Pohiva, told the Samoa Observer newspaper that he will set the challenge when leaders meet the Pacific Island Forum the tiny nation Nauru in September. He said: "We should all get together a weight-loss competition for an entire year, so when we meet the following year, we will weigh again and see who has lost the most." He added: "We have been [talking about] the same issue, the years but it doesn't seem to work."
Mr Pohiva also spoke Tonga's life expectancy going because of obesity and weight-related issues. He said: "It is now down to 68 years old, yet one stage it was 71. It has reduced significantly." He hopes his weight-loss challenge will encourage Pacific islanders to lose weight. He said: "Once the leaders are adapting to that mindset they would be determined to get their people [doing] the same...and go there." The Secretary General the Pacific Island Forum said Pacific island nations were losing their fight child obesity. The World Health Organization said 20 per cent children the ages of five and 19 were obese 10 Pacific island countries.
