Obesity and overweight in South African primary school children – the Health of the Nation Study - Download PDF

The Kellogg's Health of the Nation 50 hoursSports challenge is one of Sporting Chance's biggest annual projects and is a health awareness and educational campaign focused on the following four aspects:

• The importance of being physically active and leading a healthy lifestyle
• Nutrition
• Personal hygiene
• TB awareness

The Health of the Nation project originated when Sporting Chance's Health of the Nation research tests conducted between 2000 and 2004 in conjunction with the UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, revealed that South Africa was facing a huge problem promoting and implementing physical activity. The research also indicated that children from all backgrounds across the country showed a tendency towards the onset of obesity, similar to that seen in developed countries more than a decade ago.

With these findings in mind and to highlight the importance of physical activity, Sporting Chance initiated the Health of the Nation 50 hour Sports Challenge in 2006. The aim of the project - for children to keep a ball in motion for an uninterrupted 50 hours, is to highlight the importance of physical activity in children's lives.

Five years later the programme has grown exponentially and is now a two-fold event that takes place in association with Virgin Active, Kia Charity & Care, Supersport Let's Play and radio partners Good Hope fm and SAfm.

Prior to the Challenge, Sporting Chance, in association with the National Department of Health and the Desmond Tutu Foundation, host pre-Challenge road shows in selected communities. The sessions address specific social concerns within communities including nutrition, how to lead an active life; prevent obesity and principles of personal hygiene.

The sixth Kellogg's Health of the Nation 50-hour Sports Challenge will kick off in Cape Town in mid September and then in Johannesburg  to coincide with National Nutrition Week during October.

The 2011 Kellogg's Health of the Nation 50 hour Sports Challenge has the support of the provincial and municipal Departments of Health, Basic Education and Sport & Recreation, in addition to celebrity health and entertainment ambassadors, who promote the project and further encourage healthy and active lifestyles among South Africa's youth.

Read our blog for more information about the two 2011 Kellogg's Health of the Nation 50 hour Sports Challenge events that will take place – click here for Cape Town  or click here for Johannesburg .