Obesity is not just an eating issue!
AUTHOR: Judy Turner
A report by independent researcher John White has been released this week suggesting that if we are serious about reducing Type 2 Diabetes and obesity in NZ, we need to rebalance our focus.
The study is supported by both the Obesity Action Coalition and a group called Living Streets Aotearoa, and suggests that many politicians are missing the point on this issue.
The Health Select Committee last year held an inquiry into obesity related issues and there is now concern that the report of the committee did not accurately reflect the balance of the 313 submissions to the inquiry.
"The public health message should never imply that nutrition interventions are more important than physical activity interventions, or vice versa" says Mr White in his report.
I wonder if the Select Committee was a tad hijacked by its Chair Green MP Sue Kedgley who is well known as an advocate for a more heavily regulated food industry, in particular more detailed labelling on our supermarket products, and also greater limitations on the advertising of fast-food brands?
Ms Kedgley said that the committee did agree that physical activity was just as important as diet and yet the committees report is more strongly biased towards nutritional strategies and makes no mention of physical activity.
The government released its 'Obesity Action Plan' in November last year and 12 of 23 planned Government "actions" are focused on healthy eating and there is again nothing specifically related to physical activity.
It seems like a lot of time and money has been wasted on a set of recommendations that send a dangerously incomplete message.