Press Release
24 October 2003
Strategy not enough to prevent
childhood obesity says coalition
The Obesity Action Coalition challenges the New Zealand Government to follow the lead given by the New South Wales State
Government and commit money to dealing with childhood obesity.
Following a New South Wales Government initiated summit on Childhood Obesity held in 2002, the State Government
yesterday announced it is committing $3.5million to an Action Plan for the Prevention of Obesity of Children and Young
People.
The plan includes a Healthy School Canteen Strategy, a Centre of Overweight and Obesity where health experts will
monitor the problem and evaluate the effectiveness of services and programs, a School Physical Activity and Nutrition
Survey and an Out-of-School-Hours Care Pilot Sport Program.
“Childhood obesity is a growing problem in New Zealand too and we need some serious money to deal with it. We know that
more often than not fat children become fat adults,” says Celia Murphy, Executive Director of the Obesity Action
Coalition.
“If we don’t get to work on preventing obesity in children now, many children will end up dying of obesity-related
illnesses before their parents. Just talking about the problem isn’t going solve it, there needs to be commitment of
money from the government.”
She says “The Healthy Eating Healthy Action” Strategy released by the Ministry of Health in New Zealand last year has
the framework for really good work in obesity prevention. An implementation plan for the strategy is being devised by a
group of experts at present but the plan won’t work unless it is adequately funded.”
The size of the problem in New Zealand will be quantified when the National Children’s Nutrition Survey is released on 7
November.
“We hope the results of the survey will move the government to recognise the seriousness of childhood obesity and act
quickly,” says Ms Murphy.
ENDS
The Obesity Action Coalition represents 60 organisations focused on health, nutrition and physical activity as well as
Maori and Pacific health groups all interested in addressing the growing problem of obesity and its related health
issues.
Its role is to advocate for a wide range of initiatives including government policy, regulations and legislation that
will positively influence obesity rates.