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 inaction on obesity after an OECD 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 United States and Mexican obesity rates?, and Dr Toomath says education campaigns are an ?utterly unsuccessful? way to stop the rot. Making healthier foods ?the easy 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 that came out 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 need to restore the idea that un-healthy foods are ?treat foods? and buy them only on special occasions. The increase in consumption of ?energy dense foods? is a big contributor to the nation?s poor health. Dr Toomath says much food has lost its bulk of fibre and other elements like vitamins, and there has been a change in the quality of food. The idea of ?value for money? has seen western meal proportions increase dramatically, she says. ?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 have a genetic predisposition to gaining weight, but that doesn?t account for obesity being the ?single biggest factor of mortality in the country?. Dr Toomath says other OECD countries have developed strategies? for coping with the epidemic, but New Zealand has seen a ?U-turn? with the change of government. The campaign used to battle smoking is sighted as a good benchmark for tackling obesity. The OECD report shows 18 per cent of adults smoke in NZ, the fourth lowest in developed nations. Dr Toomath would like the obesity campaign focused on increasing taxes on sugary drinks and restricting advertising of unhealthy foods. ?There needs to be restriction on food we don?t want people eating, but you can?t ban them,? she says. 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.
