More in budget for projects to tackle obesity

More money to fight obesity is almost a certainty when the budget is announced on Thursday.

Health Minister Pete Hodgson has signalled that projects to tackle obesity are likely to feature strongly in next year's health spending, after a report by the Health Ministry's public health intelligence unit found that 34 per cent of New Zealanders over 15 are overweight and 20 per cent obese.

"A lot of people have been looking for a crisis in health.

"This is it. One in five New Zealanders [is] obese and we can only begin to imagine what that will mean for the future of our health system.

"It's now time to turn our concern into action in our communities and with our families," he said.

In January, Mr Hodgson told the Herald he had directed his officials to steer more money towards obesity-related projects.

He indicated then that he would like to see more of the Ministry's Healthy Eating, Healthy Action (Heha) strategy, such as the free fruit in schools programme, put into action.

In an editorial, the medical journal the Lancet has praised Hodgson for his work on tackling obesity.

Finance Minister Michael Cullen has indicated that the $9.68 billion health spend is in line for a lesser increase this time after last year's 11 per cent top-up.

An extra $750 million has been set aside for new health initiatives this year.