Administrators of junior girls sport should take note of the ninth annual Active Girls Breakfast in Melbourne this week, with the breakfast targeted at teenage girls at a crucial stage in their lives and designed to enhance self-esteem and encourage a positive body image.
FROM THE MINISTER FOR SPORT AND RECREATION
DATE: Thursday, June 5, 2008
BODY IMAGE ON THE AGENDA FOR ACTIVE GIRLS BREAKFAST
Teenage girls have tucked into a healthy breakfast and learnt about how to develop and maintain a positive body image at the ninth annual Active Girls Breakfast in Melbourne today.
Sport and Recreation and Youth Affairs Minister James Merlino said active participation and eating nutritional food helps maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“The Active Girls Breakfast is targeted at teenage girls at a crucial stage in their lives and is designed to enhance self-esteem and encourage a positive body image, which is the theme of this year’s event,” Mr Merlino said.
Mr Merlino said a host of inspiring role models including Olympic gold medallist swimmer Brooke Hanson and Michelle Bridges, from television’s The Biggest Loser, attended the breakfast.
“During the breakfast the girls were be able to chat to more than 100 role models representing 50 different sports, hear about their experiences and learn how they maintain a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
“The breakfast also provided a forum where we could recognise the sporting achievements of our young guests and give them an opportunity to meet and learn from elite female athletes.”
Motivational speakers at the breakfast included Michelle Bridges, 16-year-old cricketer Meg Lanning and Victorian Institute of Sport public affairs manager Lisa Hasker.
Mr Merlino said the Active Girls Breakfast was a Brumby Government initiative aimed at curbing the prevalence of obesity in adolescents.
“Obesity in adolescents is a major concern, not only because of health and social problems in the short-term, but also because there is a high risk it may continue into adulthood and affect long-term health,” he said.
“The breakfast is part of the Brumby Government’s $150 million Go for your life campaign encouraging good nutrition and exercise to keep Victorians of all ages fit and health.
“By encouraging greater participation in sport and recreation we are setting young Victorians on a positive track for the future.”
There were eight other Active Girls Breakfasts held across Victoria this year in Stawell, Warracknabeal, Donald, Swan Hill, Mildura, Foster, Wangaratta and Warrnambool.
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