Friday 13 November 2020 2:31pm
On 14 November 2020, World Diabetes Day, the Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre acknowledges the millions of people worldwide living with diabetes who are at increased risk for poor outcomes from a COVID-19 infection.
The imperative to prevent type 2 diabetes has never been stronger, and addressing the causes of obesity will go a long way towards preventing new cases of this disease.
Professor Jim Mann, Co-Director of EDOR and Director of the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge, spoke recently with Radio NZ about what needs to happen to address childhood obesity in Aotearoa New Zealand:
Concerted action needed to tackle NZ/Pacific child obesity, RNZ, 12 Nov, 2020
How can we prevent type 2 diabetes?
The most effective way to address the diabetes pandemic is a public health approach. There are a range of actions that governments can take to help prevent type 2 diabetes, including:
- A levy on sugar-sweetened beverages
- A government-led code for food advertising
- An enforceable healthy school food policy
- Clear recommendations regarding the role of sleep in obesity prevention
Hear more from the experts
- Nick Wareham- how to tackle New Zealand's diabetes epidemic, RNZ, 21 September, 2019 (24min,43sec)
- Can food or drink taxes protect our health? EDOR experts analyse worldwide studies, 19 March, 2020
- High fibre benefits those with diabetes or prediabetes, EDOR study finding, 12 March, 2020
- The global effort to tackle obesity and diabetes - public lectures, 28 February, 2018
- The Diabesity Crisis: How can we make a difference? A range of presentations from worldwide experts in diabetes and obesity research, 2017
Read about the double jeopardy of diabetes and COVID-19
- Diabetes and COVID-19—the meeting of two pandemics: what are the concerns? NZMJ, 8 May 2020, Volume 133, Number 1514
- Let's not ignore the other pandemic, Niki Bezzant, Newsroom, 30 May, 2020
Find out more about EDOR's diabetes research
Diabetes and obesity research at the Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre
