A comprehensive plan that includes 22 initiatives aimed at reducing childhood obesity in New Zealand has been announced this week.

Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman says being overweight or obese is expected to overtake tobacco as the leading preventable risk to health in New Zealand within the next 12 months.

This week Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman unveiled the Childhood Obesity Plan which features 22 initiatives aimed at reducing obesity rates in New Zealand. Photo: Thinkstock.

The Childhood Obesity Plan includes improved public information and resources, actions for the health sector and food and beverage industry, as well as looks to increase physical activity amongst Kiwis.

The 22 initiatives include a mix of new or expanded existing services grouped into three key themes.

Those themes are: targeted interventions for those who are identified as obese, increased support for those at risk of becoming obese and broad strategies to make healthier choices easier.

Dr Coleman says at the core of the plan is a new childhood obesity health target which will be part of the health targets programme from July 1, 2016.

'By December 2017, 95 per cent of children identified as obese in the B4 School Check will be referred to an appropriate health professional for clinical assessment and family based nutrition, activity and lifestyle interventions.”

The B4 School Check is a free health and development check for four year olds which aim to identify and address health, behavioural, social or development concerns that could affect a child's ability to get the most benefit from school.

'Over 58,600 children have benefited from this free service in the last year, of that, over 1,400 were referred on for obesity related support. With this target we expect that will treble to over 4,000 a year by December 2017.”

Dr Coleman says a number of actions will also be led by Sport NZ and The Ministry of Education, who are key partners in the plan.

Community programmes such as Healthy Families NZ will continue to roll out around the country while other programmes will be enhanced so they are better targeted to provide nutrition and activity support and advice to those who need it most.

'We are working with the food industry on the role they can play. Options discussed so far include appropriate marketing and advertising to children and food labelling.

'Childhood obesity is a serious issue which means some of our kids could end up living shorter lives than their parents.”

This package of initiatives will be funded from within existing health, sport and education budgets.

For more information about the Childhood Obesity Plan visit the Ministry of Health website at: www.health.govt.nz