NZSKI Step up programme proves huge success for teens

NZSki Step Up, the Wakatipu’s first fully sponsored health and fitness education programme for young, overweight teens wrapped up last night with ten local kids and their families having taken part. Lakes Leisure, in association with NZSki and a host of respected Queenstown health professionals, developed the programme for kids who needed support to take the first positive steps towards a healthy lifestyle change.

The children, aged from 11 to 15 years, took part in the 10-week programme which involved meeting once a week for a variety of education and activity sessions, as well as being given plenty of work to do at home. The average amount of weight lost during the programme was 4kg but it was the long term education and outlook of the children that was deemed to be the most important outcome. Parental involvement in the programme was an essential component to ensure that the children’s efforts to turn their lives around were supported on every level.

The NZSki  Step Up kids were given the skills to make the right choices for a healthy lifestyle. The basics of healthy eating including portion sizes, food components, labels, cooking, shopping and eating out were all covered alongside their being introduced to regular physical activity. The children enjoyed learning a range of sports such as futsal, RPM and paddle boarding, and have all chosen a sport that they aim to participate in long term. The NZSki Step Up kids and their trainer, Haylee Roberts, will continue to meet casually on a monthly basis to ensure they continue on their path towards a healthy lifestyle.

Richie Heap, manager of Alpine Health & Fitness said “It was wonderful to see this programme come together and for it to be such a success. It’s been something that we’ve wanted to do for quite some time. To be able to help with the kid’s health education at this early stage is going to make a significant difference to both them and their family’s lives in the future.”

To learn more about the NZSki Step Up programme, click here: http://www.lakesleisure.co.nz/health-fitness/group-training.html#stepup