Insurance giant Argus is funding the health survey, which will be going out to all middle and senior schools next month.

The Personal Wellness Profile is made up of more than 50 questions on subjects such as diet and exercise. Once completed, students will receive a confidential report on the state of their own health, along with recommendations to improve their wellbeing. Students can only take part in the questionnaire if they have parental permission.

Schools and the Ministries of Health and Education will all receive data from the survey, although Argus stressed that individual confidentiality will be maintained.

At a press conference yesterday, Argus Group president and CEO Gerald Simons said: ?In March, 2005 the Argus Group launched the island?s first insurance-led wellness programme. This programme is designed to improve the health and quality of life of residents and reduce over the long term the cost of healthcare.

?Today we?re here to talk about wellness for older children and teenagers. With 25 per cent of Bermuda?s children overweight and suffering from associated health problems, we at Argus felt that we needed to take positive steps to improve the health of all children in Bermuda. Changing lifestyle behaviours can have a positive effect on a child over his entire lifetime.

?Habits learned at a young age are more likely to remain with that person for the rest of their life and therefore we are delighted to extend our wellness initiative to older children and teenagers.?

Argus executive vice-president Cindy Campbell added: ?The results of the survey will provide data that can be compared to the Government?s Teen Wellness Survey conducted in 2001.

?It will allow Government to monitor trends in the health profile of this age group. Argus is committed to repeating this initiative in the future so that our young people can continue to monitor and take charge of their own health.?

Health Minister Patrice Minors and Education Minister Neletha Butterfield were also at yesterday?s press conference.

Ms Butterfield said: ?The data gathered will give us a better understanding of health concerns facing young people. We can then use this information to develop practical, workable solutions to address the health issues facing our youth.?