New Zealand in midst of obesity epidemic says health report

New Zealand is in the midst of an obesity epidemic with the condition now twice as common in adults as it was 25 years ago, a Health Ministry report launched today shows.

"Obesity has long been recognised as a major health issue, but this confirms what we have long suspected. New Zealand is in the midst of an obesity epidemic," Under Secretary for Health Mita Ririnui said in the report.

"We know that obesity has a huge impact on people's health."

Mr Ririnui said the report was one of the most thorough and comprehensive descriptions of a national obesity epidemic produced for any country.

Tracking the Obesity Epidemic: New Zealand 1977-2003 contains data from four national nutrition and health surveys. It tracks changes to the body mass index of New Zealanders aged 15-74 years from 1977 to 2003.

Mr Ririnui said the report provided a solid evidence base for future policy and planning and information that will be critical in further implementing and evaluating the ministry's Health Eating-Healthy Action strategy.

"Excess body weight is one of the most important modifiable risk factors in major diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and several cancers," he said.

"We need to be concerned and we need to take action."

The report showed the prevalence of obesity in adults doubled from about 10 per cent of the adult population to 21 per cent in 2003. It grew slowly in the 1970s and 1980s then accelerated rapidly in the late 1980s to mid-1990s. It continued to grow from 1997 to 2003 in most population groups, although did appear to slow in some women and Maori.

Despite the growth of the epidemic having slowed among Maori of both sexes in the past five years, the prevalence of obesity remains higher in Maori than in the total population.

The report does not include data on children, but results of the 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey showed that 10 per cent of school age children were obese.

- NZPA