The Diabesity Crisis: How can we make a difference?

The Diabesity symposium showcased the latest national and international research on diabetes and obesity. Jointly organised by two National Science Challenges—A Better Start and Healthier Lives—and the University of Otago's Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre, this event focused on how preventive actions and treatments can make a difference to the rising tide of diabesity.

• Friday, 17 March 2017, 9am–5pm
• Clinical Education Centre, Auckland City Hospital, 2 Park Road, Grafton
• Cost: $50
  

• Read a summary of the Diabesity Symposium on Public Health Expert, a University of Otago blog
• Download the Diabesity symposium programme (PDF 261 KB)

Videos of Diabesity Symposium presentations (mp4)

Should we be starting early?
Chair: Professor Barry Taylor

• Preventing obesity in early childhood: lessons from Australia, New Zealand, and beyond (41min9sec) Professor Louise Baur, University of Sydney
• Is sleep the answer to childhood obesity? (13min40sec) Professor Rachael Taylor, University of Otago
• Bottoms up: the gut microbiome and childhood obesity (19min16sec) Professor Wayne Cutfield, University of Auckland
• Sitting less, HIITing more and everything in between: physical activity for obesity prevention among adolescents (31min48sec) Professor David Lubans, University of Newcastle

Are there new strategies we can use?
Chair: Dr Rachael McLean

• Kids'Cam: The obesogenic world of New Zealand children in pictures (14min54sec) Professor Louise Signal, University of Otago
• mHealth for diabetes and obesity prevention in Maori and Pacific communities (16min8sec) Dr Lisa Te Morenga, University of Otago
• Best practice policy approaches to obesity prevention (16min35sec) Professor Cliona Ni Mhurchu, University of Auckland

Is it too late by adulthood?
Chair: Professor Robert Beaglehole

• Exploring and overcoming T2DM inequalities in Indigenous Peoples (45min16sec) Professor Alex Brown, University of South Australia
• The role of genetics in diabetes and obesity (17min43sec) Professor Tony Merriman, University of Otago
• Enhancing biological resilience to obesity and type 2 diabetes (13min4sec) Associate Professor Rinki Murphy, University of Auckland
• Can primary care contribute to halting and reversing the diabetes epidemic? (16min35sec) Dr Kirsten Coppell, University of Otago

Is surgery the answer for diabetes?
Chair: Associate Professor Jeremy Krebs

• Targeting the gut to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes (47min46sec) Professor Rachel Batterham, University College London
• Māori Voices in the journey towards Bariatric Surgery: experiences through the Whānau Health Literacy Pilot Programme and beyond (22min32sec) Ms Callie Corrigan, Toi Tangata

Closing comments and summary (7min18sec) Professor Rod Jackson, University of Auckland

Powerpoint presentations of the symposium talks will be available shortly

Evidence for making a real difference

New Zealand is facing a rising tide of diabesity. Our rates of diabetes and obesity are amongst the highest in the world. The problem is starting in early life and leading to increased levels of disability in mid- and later-life. There is a significant and growing cost in both human and economic terms and we urgently need solutions for individuals and communities.

Many interventions have been tried but not all have proved successful. This symposium focused on the evidence about what will make a real difference, across a spectrum covering public health measures, social inequalities, better understanding of genetic predisposition, lifestyle changes and surgical options.

Meet our diabesity crisis speakers

Related event

The evening before our diabesity symposium we held a public forum: The 'cost' of sugar.

Read more about the forum and speakers:

The 'cost' of sugar forum

The diabesity crisis symposium hosts

The hosts are three leading research groups that share a common interest in tackling the health problems New Zealand is facing as a result of increasing levels of obesity and diabetes.

A Better Start National Science Challenge has a focus on finding better ways to predict, prevent and treat obesity in children and teenagers.

The Healthier Lives National Science Challenge aims to reduce levels of diabetes and obesity in adults in line with World Health Organisation recommendations.

The Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre has been working to reduce the global burden of these diseases through research and dissemination of knowledge for the past decade.

We are delighted to collaborate with each other in order to bring cutting edge national and international research findings to a wide audience in New Zealand.