Government ?value choice over health? in obesity battle
By Jamie Melbourne-Hayward
The consequences of it being cheaper to be unhealthy are burdening the nation. Healthcare lobbyists are criticising the Government's non-action on obesity after a report shows New Zealand is the third fattest nation in the developed world. Wellington Hospital Clinical Leader of Internal Medicine and spokesperson for Fight the Obesity Epidemic Robyn Toomath says the situation is very complex. ?We know disease and complications caused by obesity will lead to higher healthcare costs in the future,? she says. New Zealand sits third behind US and Mexican obesity rates?, and Mrs Toomath says education campaigns are an ?utterly unsuccessful? way to stop the rot. Making healthier foods ?the cheaper option? is a major factor in the battle against obesity. ?It?s the million dollar question. ?Healthy foods should be subsidised, because it?s the case that poverty and obesity track together. ?We send our leanest cuts of meat and protein to Japan and sell hideous canned beef to Samoa,? she says. The National government has ?refused to agree? on any recent recommendations of a select committee enquiry into obesity. The Government?s ?political ideology? is to ?value choice over health,? says Dr Toomath. Aside from politics, families should restore the idea that un-healthy foods are ?treat foods?, and only buy them on special occasions. The increase in consumption of ?energy dense foods? is one big contributor to the nation?s poor health. She says much food has lost the bulk of fibre and other elements like vitamins that carry less cholesterol, and there has been a change in the quality of food. The idea of ?value for money? has seen western meal proportions increase dramatically. ?It?s about making a product that is attractive for people, like the free refills at Burger King ? it?s about buying customer share. ?The more they put in front of us, the more we eat,? she says. Some people are more genetically predetermined to gain weight, but that does not account for obesity being the ?single biggest factor to mortality in the country?. Other OECD countries have developed strategies? for coping with the epidemic, but New Zealand has done a ?U-turn? with the change of government. Dr Toomath says National?s inaction with the obesity issue will cause the country ?a lot of trouble in the future?. The campaign used to battle smoking has been said to be a good benchmark for tackling obesity and should focus on increasing taxes on sugary drinks and restricting advertising of unhealthy foods, she says. The OECD report shows 18 per cent of adults smoke in NZ, the fourth lowest in developed nations. ?There needs to be restriction on food we don?t want people eating, you can?t ban them,? says Dr Toomath. Shocking Fat Facts Three out of every four deaths in Hutt Valley are caused by heart disease and cancer The annual cost of obesity and diabetes to the heath system has been estimated at $900 million, which has been forecast to rise steeply. 26.5 per cent of New Zealand's population is obese. Nationally, around two out of every five deaths are caused by food related risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, weight and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake.
