Obesity Discussion Forums

[Obesity Discussion]

National obesity directive wanted

May 17, 2006

The Obesity Action Coalition says there is a lack of national leadership and co-ordination on the issue.

Parliament's health select committee is hearing submissions on Wednesday on its inquiry into obesity and type 2 diabetes in New Zealand.

The coalition's executive director Celia Murphy told the committee there is a lot of good work happening to tackle the problem, but it is not co-ordinated in any way.

Murphy says the DHBs are working with different communities that have specific needs, but there are overall issues that affect the whole country, and that is where national direction is needed.

Meantime, wider access to stomach stapling operations is being mooted as a way of addressing the obesity epidemic.

Fight the Obesity Epidemic told the select committee taxes on fatty foods would help eliminate temptation and address the problem more effectively than better nutritional education.

More extreme options such as stomach stapling were also raised, which the group says would rid younger obese people of type 2 diabetes for a couple of decades and reduce the need for expensive dialysis treatment in the future.

The Obesity Action Coalition says New Zealand's food supply needs to be the first target, as people need healthier options. But the Food and Grocery Council is fighting any regulation of the food industry, saying if eaten in moderation, there are no unhealthy foods.

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[Obesity Discussion]

Speaking of obesity directive, here are some of the budget #s dedicated to obesity in New Zealand:


May 19, 2006

There is both acceptance and criticism in response to a budget that delivered 8% more funding for health but little for those waiting for elective, or non-urgent, surgery.

Instead, the focus is on programmes to tackle obesity, child health and boost support for the aged.

The health budget directs $76.1 million to a campaign to fight obesity.

There is an $80.4 million child health package, which includes a strengthened child and adolescent oral health service, an expansion of Well Child checks and the creation of a universal newborn hearing screening programme.

And an extra $126 million over for years is tagged for the care of the elderly - $58 million for home-based support services and $68 million for residential facilities. The money will be distributed by district health boards.

Doctors' groups and the Public Health Association have welcomed the focus on the three areas, but there are some concerns.

Providers in the aged care sector are sceptical they will see all the extra funding announced in the budget.

Martin Taylor, the chief executive of Healthcare Providers, which represents private operators, says last year providers received only a third of the $71 million announced in the budget.

Health Minister, Pete Hodgson, says a formula has been put in place since last year to ensure the DHBs distribute all the extra funding.

The National Party says there is no comfort in the health budget for more than 20,000 New Zealanders dumped from hospital waiting lists this year.

National's health spokesman, Tony Ryall, says Labour has no plans to deal with the growing shortage of GPs and specialists, no plan to provide surgery for those dumped from waiting lists and no plan to cut bureaucracy.

There is also concern at the lack of money set aside to tackle workforce shortages in the health sector.

Chairman of the Medical Association, Doctor Ross Boswell, says he is pleased at the money for the fight against obesity. But he is disappointed there is no targeted money for workforce development and retaining staff.

Boswell is also disappointed there is no significant extra money for medical schools, which he says are seriously underfunded.

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