The prime minister of Tonga asked other leaders to fight obesity by taking part in a year-long weight-loss challenge. Akilisi Pohiva will set the challenge when the Pacific Island Forum tales place in the nation of Nauru in September. He said: "We should all get together for a weight-loss competition...so when we meet the following year, we will weigh in again and see who has lost the most." He added leaders had talked about this issue for years, but nothing changed.
Tonga's life expectancy has gone down because of obesity. It has reduced from 71 to 68. He hopes his challenge will get Pacific islanders to lose weight and that they will look after their weight if they see their leaders doing the same. The Pacific Island Forum said Pacific island nations were losing the fight against child obesity. The World Health Organization said 20 per cent of children were obese in 10 Pacific island countries.