KEY POINTS:
Pacific Island leaders need to change their attitudes towards food to promote healthy eating among their communities, a Victoria University researcher says.
Aliitasi Tavila talked with groups of women whose role is to cook traditional feasts, which usually consist of masses of fatty processed meats such as pork and corned beef, and few fruits or vegetables.
She found that with the shame the women would feel if they didn't provide enough food and the belief that taste is more important than health, the women also feared a backlash from leaders if culturally appropriate food was not prepared .
Ms Tavila told the Doctor magazine: "Even if the women are of the opinion that light food would be healthier, they cannot make the change for fear of backlash and out of respect for their cultural leaders and paramount chiefs."
Ms Tavila said she intended to show Island leaders photos of feasts in the 1930s, which featured mainly island fruit, vegetables and fish, with a little pork, no fizzy drinks and people walking home.
She said the pictures showed a marked difference from today's menu of processed fatty meats, fizzy sugary drinks and people driving home.
- NZPA
