NZMA calls for action on obesity
In a major policy briefing released today, the New Zealand Medical Association recommends a suite of measures to be
considered as part of an approach to tackling New Zealand’s obesity epidemic.
NZMA Chair Dr Mark Peterson says obesity and its related complications are potentially the greatest public health threat
we face over the next decade.
Such a significant risk to the health of the New Zealand population must be of concern to doctors, he says. “Our
commitment to the health of our patients means we must individually and collectively do as much as we can to influence
this epidemic.
“Central to these measures will be countering the obesogenic environment and improving health literacy. We believe that
government is in the best position to implement an integrated response to the obesity epidemic via a combination of
legislative, regulatory and policy levers.“
The briefing—Tackling Obesity—is a major piece of work for the Association, with several months’ research into the latest evidence on both the harms
associated with obesity and on the successful ways in which it is being addressed in other countries.
Along with obvious complications such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, obesity is a factor in certain types of
cancers, and a host of other conditions such as osteoarthritis, gallstones, gynaecological disorders, sleep apnoea and
depression.
“Obesity is also a significant equity issue,” says Dr Peterson, “with children living in the most deprived areas three
times more likely to be obese than children who live in the least deprived areas. There are also significant ethnic
disparities, with Māori and Pasifika being over represented in obesity statistics, along with Asian and Indian ethnic
groups.”
In Tackling Obesity, the NZMA makes a number of recommendations that require a whole-of-government and a whole-of-community response.
“Influencing the ‘obesogenic’ environment our patients face every day is the role of all doctor organisations, and NZMA
intends to lead this,” says Dr Peterson. “We would encourage other organisations to support us. We must aim to make the
healthy choice the easy choice.”
Tackling Obesity is available on the NZMA’s website.
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