The prime minister of Tonga has challenged of other Pacific nations to lose . He is asking them to join the against obesity by taking part in a one-year-long weight loss . The prime minister, Akilisi Pohiva, told the Samoa Observer that he will set the challenge when leaders meet at the Pacific Island Forum in the nation of Nauru in September. He said: "We should all get together for a weight-loss competition for an year, so when we meet the year, we will weigh in again and see who has lost the ." He added: "We have been [talking about] the same , over the years but it doesn't seem to work."
Mr Pohiva also spoke about Tonga's life going down because of and weight-related issues. He said: "It is now down to 68 years old, yet at one it was 71. It has reduced ." He hopes his weight-loss challenge will encourage Pacific islanders to lose weight. He said: "Once the are adapting to that they would be determined to get their people [doing] the same...and go from there." The Secretary General of the Pacific Island Forum said Pacific island were losing their fight against obesity. The World Health Organization said 20 per cent of between the ages of five and 19 were in 10 Pacific island countries.
