The prime minister of Tonga has challenged fellow Pacific leaders to a year-long weight-loss competition to combat soaring obesity levels in the region.
The Pacific has the highest obesity rates in the world and Tonga leader Akilisi Pohiva said politicians needed to lead from the front to help curb the problem.
"We should all get together for a weight-loss competition, for an entire year," he told the Samoa Observer in an interview published this week.
"So when we meet the following year we will weigh in again and see who has lost the most.
"It is not about who loses the most kilos but in order to shake off the weight, you must eat light and having that healthy mentality will go a long way."
"And with Pacific Island leaders, we meet and talk and talk about this issue, yet initiatives on this issue is not making an impact, it doesn't seem to work."
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