Wednesday 12 August 2015 11:02am
Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research scientists have co-authored a report, along with University of Otago colleague Dr Reremoana Theodore, outlining the challenges faced in addressing obesity in Māori.
Nearly half of all Māori adults are obese, according to the 2008/9 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey. In addition, Māori are significantly more likely to experience obesity-related illnesses including pre-diabetes, high-blood pressure and heart attacks, than non-Māori.
Dr Lisa Te Morenga, co-lead author of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health commentary, says that improving the health of Māori requires a reduction in the socio-economic gap between Māori and non-Māori: "the people who are most able to make healthier lifestyle choices, and therefore improve their health, are the people who are the most well-off".
Dr Rachael McLean, a senior lecturer and public health physician with the departments of Human Nutrition, and Preventive and Social Medicine, says a broad range of government interventions are required to create an environment where people are supported to make healthy food and lifestyle choices. These include restricting the marketing of unhealthy food to children and taxing sugar-sweetened beverages.
Follow the news stories
- Intervention vital to curb Maori obesity, Radio NZ news, 10 August, 2015
- Te Manu Korihi interview with Dr Lisa Te Morenga, Radio NZ, 11 August, 2015 (interview starts at 1min 22sec into the recording)
- Government must fix Maori obesity, NZ Herald, 11 August, 2015
