Dreamworld and WhiteWater World on Australia's Gold Coast have launched an educational programme designed to raise awareness of healthy habits among school children.

The Dreamkids - Healthy Habit Attack! is a half-day programme that encourages school students to analyse three key areas of health: fitness, sun safety and healthy food habits, while at the two theme parks.

A series of activities will let students investigate how their wellbeing is influenced by personal, social, cultural and environmental factors.

Tasks include calculating the amount of energy expended walking from one of the parks’ rides to another, the number of steps which must be climbed to burn off popular foods and how to plan a day in the park to avoid the harshest UV rays.

They will also develop meals for different dietary and cultural requirements based on menus on offer in the parks and learn how to recognise healthier options from occasional treats.

The initiative was launched at WhiteWater World by the Mayor of Gold Coast City, Ron Clarke, and Dreamworld CEO, Noel Dempsey. They were accompanied by 30 school students from nearby Chisholm Catholic College.

Mayor Clarke said: "Childhood obesity is one of the most serious health issues facing Australia, with experts reporting the number of overweight children doubling and the number of obese children trebling in the past decade.

"We have to get through to our kids that it's fine to have the occasional treat as long as they balance high joule foods with 30 minutes of activity every day. That can be in the form of competitive sports or incidental play like a day out at Dreamworld."

Dempsey added: "Our parks offer a whole spectrum of foods - from healthy salad sandwiches through to high calorie treats - all against the back drop of a full day of play.

"By using our theme parks as a real life example of the concepts taught in school, kids will be able to get a first-hand understanding of the basic rule that energy in should not exceed energy out and how considered food choices combined with increased activity leads to healthier lifestyles."