New Zealand Government Wins 'Couch Potato' AwardYour Health ...

From NZ Doctor?..

Australia has beaten New Zealand in a low-scoring Trans-Tasman ?Test Match? of obesity policies and programs at the Australian New Zealand Obesity Society?s (ANZOS) annual Couch Potato Awards announced Thursday night.

This year?s awards pitted the two nations against each other across eight areas of government action including leadership, food marketing, food labelling, fiscal policies and social marketing to tackle the pressing issue of obesity in both countries.

Jane Martin, Chair of the Public Health Subcommittee of ANZOS said while Australia won on points, both countries failed to score highly in any of the categories, despite obesity rates reaching record levels in Australia and New Zealand.

?While Australians and New Zealanders like to perceive themselves as sporty, outdoorsy types, they are in fact exercising too little and eating too much junk food. Around two-thirds of Australians and New Zealanders are overweight or obese.

?It?s extremely concerning that despite these rates, the New Zealand government has shown particularly weak leadership in the area of health promotion, in fact it appears adverse to it while providing concessions to the processed food industry.

?In the past few years, the New Zealand Government has defunded programs such as Healthy Eating, Health Action and pulled away from healthy eating policies in schools. It?s vital these are reinstated and extended to the public sector such as hospitals. There is emerging evidence that community-based interventions such as Project Energize in Waikato could be effective but this must be scaled up to reach children across New Zealand,? Ms Martin.

While both countries share the ongoing problems of confusing food labelling and relentless, unhealthy food marketing targeting children, Australia has taken a more comprehensive approach to tackling obesity through whole of community programs.

?In Australia, particularly Victoria and South Australia, we?ve seen state governments using federal funding to value-add and enhance programs such as the Prevention Community Model (Victoria) and Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle program (SA) that tackle obesity through programs in schools, workplaces and in the broader community.

?Australia has also made some progress via the Australian National Preventative Health Agency in social marketing ? creating advertising to encourage healthier behaviours such as the Swap It campaign -however more could certainly be done in this area,? Ms Martin said.

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Source: http://www.lensaunders.com/wp/?p=5825

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