An annual expo in Fredericton this weekend is aiming to encourage young people to be active for life.

An avid skateboarder himself, Rodney Mann is always happy to see young people pick up the activity, which he said has positive health benefits.

“You have balance, and you’ve got cardio and a lot of trial and error, which is good for the brain,” Mann said.

Skateboarding is just one of the activities on display for kids and parents at the annual FredKid fair.

“The idea of the event, it’s to connect them to different resources in the community,” said organizer Lodvi Bongers.

That includes resources that encourage physical activity in a province with some of the highest obesity levels in the country.

According to Statistics Canada, about 34 per cent of New Brunswick adults are obese. Studies suggest obesity that begins in adolescence becomes more difficult to address later on in life.

Organizations like the New Brunswick Medical Society have put a spotlight on the issue with a campaign for healthier school lunches.

The YMCA encourages families to get kids active early.

“We offer even little itty bitty babies swimming lessons,” said Cassaundra Belshaw with the Fredericton YMCA. “Something as simple as that, getting out and meeting other families.”

The high cost of being healthy can be an obstacle to some families.

“We offer memberships to families who might not be able to afford it otherwise, and we offer memberships to people who don’t know people,” Belshaw said.

The expo is aimed at getting young people moving in the midst of what has been called a public health epidemic.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore