Islanders top scales in obesity epidemic

Pacific Islanders are the fattest people in the world and their obesity has increased more than 50 per cent in the past decade, says an international taskforce on excessive weight.

The London-based public affairs director for the taskforce, Neville Rigby, who was in New Zealand for the Commonwealth Health Ministers' meeting in Christchurch, says obesity in New Zealand is rising at an alarming rate.

Pacific Islanders, who make up 6 per cent of the population, have the highest level of obesity in the world, he says.

Excessive weight is a global epidemic that until recently has gone mostly unrecognised.

"Never in the history of the human race have so many people been so fat," says Mr Rigby

Women are more susceptible than men.

Latest Health Ministry figures indicate 15 per cent of New Zealand men and 19 per cent of women are obese, but the condition affects 27 per cent of Maori women and 47 per cent of Pacific Island women - a 50 per cent increase from 1989.

The figures show 55 per cent of Tongan women, 74 per cent of Samoan women and 77 per cent of men and women living in Nauru are obese.

"It is not about being rich and well-fed. Obesity is most often related to poverty, low economic status, exclusion from the health system," says Mr Rigby.

"In the Caribbean and many African countries it is disregarded, ignored, neglected. It is just taken for granted that a poor, middle-aged woman gets fat and then dies from diabetes."

In developed countries children are exercising less and spending more time in front of the television and computer.

"Childhood obesity is rising everywhere because children are becoming less active but have more calories than they need."

Youngsters are often driven to school and they eat "treats" all the time.

"But New Zealand is a model for the Commonwealth - a country that has taken the lead in looking at the issue of obesity and working towards developing solutions."

Improving nutrition and obesity rates is identified as one of 12 urgent objectives in the Government's new health strategy.

- NZPA

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