Obesity a Local Problem
CMDHB - 28 February 2007
There are currently 1.6 billion overweight adults in the world, according to the World Health Organization. That number is projected to grow by 40% over the next 10 years. This coupled with the fact that 8 Pacific nations were ranked in the top 10 in terms of overweight means the situation is extremely serious.
The following list reflects the percentage of overweight adults aged 15 and over.
Rank
| Country
| % | 1.
| Nauru | 94.5 | 2.
| Micronesia, Federated States of | 91.1 | 3.
| Cook Islands
| 90.9 | 4.
| Tonga
| 90.8 | 5.
| Niue | 81.7 | | 6. | Samoa
| 80.4 | 7.
| Palau
| 78.4 | 8.
| Kuwait | 74.2 | | 9. | United States
| 74.1 | 10.
| Kiribati
| 73.6 |
17.
| New Zealand
| 68.4 |
The related health risks associated with being overweight include cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and stroke. Today more than 12,000 people in Counties Manukau have been diagnosed with diabetes. It has also been estimated that nearly double this number are yet to be diagnosed.
"Whilst this makes grim reading it is important that we understand that it is not healthy for anybody to be obese irrespective of their cultural heritage," says Chad Paraone, Let's Beat Diabetes, Programme Director. "What we know is that obesity is preventable and can be addressed." Since 2005 the CMDHB and a range of community partners have focussed on diabetes as a community issue through implementation of the Let's Beat Diabetes programme. Central to the programme has been the development of sustainable initiatives and interventions that will prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes, slow its progression, and improve the quality of life for people with diabetes living in the district. "Initially Let's Beat Diabetes will target those at highest risk which include Maori and Pacific people within our community," explains Chad Paraone. "There are other emerging cultural groups who are also potentially at risk and these include South East Asian communities who we will also target in the future." Obesity is also an issue associated with lower socio-economic people. It is very often perceived easier and cheaper to fill up on convenience foods that have a high caloric value but are of little nutritional value. "This is a big community issue and it requires a big community response. We are working with communities, health care professionals, councils and other agencies to address this issue," says Chad. Later on this year, a local campaign will be launched to encourage local families to take small, practical steps to fight obesity by reducing fat and sugar intake in their everyday diet, decreasing portion sizes and increasing their activity.
For more information about Let's Beat Diabetes please contact:
Nikki Pye 021 81 4339
For all other media enquires associated with Counties Manukau District Health Board please contact Lauren Young on 027 243 9900.
Let's Beat Diabetes Programme Supporting Information
After an extensive consultation process with the community and healthcare providers, Ten Action Areas were defined as key components in the fight against diabetes. These include:
1. Supporting Community Leadership and Action
2. Promoting Behaviour Change Through Social Marketing
3. Changing Urban Design to Support Healthy, Active Lifestyles
4. Supporting a Healthy Environment Through a Food Industry Accord
5. Strengthening Health Promotion Co-ordination and Activity
6. Enhancing Well Child Services to Reduce Childhood Obesity
7. Developing a Schools Accord to Ensure Children are ‘Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn'
8. Supporting Primary Care-based Prevention and Early Intervention
9. Enabling Vulnerable Families to Make Healthy Choices
10. Improving Service Integration and Care for Advanced Disease Implementation of the initiatives and interventions associated with these action areas are in line with international best practice and focus on improved Maori and Pacific outcomes. Today there are around 60 different Let's Beat Diabetes projects and initiatives operating in partnership with local leaders, local communities and local organisations. Lotu Moui
As part of this, the Let's Beat Diabetes project team in recognition of the important role that the Church plays in within the Pacific community have worked in partnership with the Pacific Health programme called LotuMoui.Lotu Moui Health Programme is an extensive initiative operating within the Pacific community targeting the church community. The programme is comprised of:
Community education workshops: Specific nutrition workshops have been developed called Kai Lelei for the local Pacific Community. Currently the team are in the process of developing a series based on increasing physical activity. This community education programme has provided professional health information about healthy lifestyles within the church environment. Workforce development: This component enables church community members to receive health training about healthy lifestyle choices. This will in the long term increase the community's capacity to promote health. Grants: The programme has also launched a scheme that funds up to 50 churches in the Counties Manukau Churches for a pre-approved healthy lifestyle and church development programme. The programme is developed by each church. It is intended that these grants will be extend this to more churches in the next 12 months.
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