Healthy Eating in New Zealand

In the last 20 years, the number of overweight and obese people in developed countries has increased so quickly that it has been described as an epidemic and New Zealand is no exception.

	One in 10 children are obese, (10%) and a further 21% are overweight.
	Twenty one percent of adults are obese and a further 35% are overweight.

The World Health Organization has estimated that the cost for obesity is 2 to 7 percent of the annual health budget, which equates to $303 million in New Zealand.

Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and stroke, gallstones and some cancers.

Obesity is more prevalent in Maori and Pacific groups than any others.

Evidence shows that:

	Approximately 11,000 deaths each year in New Zealand can be attributed to poor nutrition and lack of physical activity.
	Of these 11,000 deaths, 8,000 to 9,000 are likely to be due to dietary factors alone, and the remaining 2,000 to 3,000 due to sub-optimal physical activity levels.
	Seventy percent of the deaths from stroke and heart disease are caused by poor nutrition and 80% of diabetes is attributable to overweight and obesity.
	Two well-established nutrition-related risk factors – cholesterol and blood pressure – along with tobacco smoking, are the three major modifiable causes of premature death.

Improved nutrition and increased physical activity would significantly reduce the prevalence of obesity.

Last updated: 23/5/2007