|
|
OBESITY PREVENTION
HSC's long-term focus is on reducing obesity and its associated illnesses (diabetes, kidney failure, joint deterioration) through better nutrition and increased physical activity.
Why is better nutrition and increased physical activity important?
 |
The joint effect of diet (which includes cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and vegetable and fruit consumption) ranks as the top cause of death in New Zealand, with physical activity also in the top 10.
|
|
The direct cost of obesity to the health system is about $500 million per annum.
|
|
Being overweight or obese increases an individual’s chances of developing type 2 diabetes, some cancers and heart disease, contributing significantly to rising health care costs and reducing both quality of life and life expectancy.
|
|
New cases of type 2 diabetes are predicted to increase by 45% by 2011 and overall prevalence by 60% for European New Zealanders, 132 for Māori, and 146% for Pacific
people.
|
Healthy Eating-Healthy Action, Oranga Kai-Oranga Pumau (HEHA) is the strategic approach to preventing obesity through improving nutrition and increasing physical activity for all New Zealanders.
The vision for HEHA is "an environment and society where individuals, families and whanau, and communities are supported to eat well, live physically active lives, and attain and maintain a healthy body weight".
To provide greater national coordination of obesity prevention, physical activity and nutrition-related activities in New Zealand, the HSC has been contracted to develop and deliver a service to support District Health Boards/ (DHBs') HEHA Project Managers. This service will:
|
facilitate more efficient and consistent communication of messages to the community, resulting in many players in the community working on the same themes concurrently, increasing coherency and effectiveness in message delivery
|
|
harness experience and expertise of the Ministry of Health, HEHA Project Managers and non-government organisations to identify themes, materials and community engagement tools that will best support the activities of agencies and communities involved in delivering nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention messages.
|
What we are seeking to achieve
The overall goal for the HEHA Strategy is to improve health and well-being and to reduce obesity and the burden of disease through better nutrition and increased physical activity.
The objectives of the HSC's support services are as follows:
|
To support DHBs and frontline workers by developing and promoting consistent nutrition and physical activity messages to target populations most at risk of obesity.
|
|
To increase public awareness and understanding of the risks of obesity and the benefits of better nutrition and increased physical activity.
|
What we will do to achieve success
HSC's support service will deliver consistent, quality-assured messages around themes, as well as increasing exposure for the messages.
Specific activities for 2009/10 include:
|
Working with the Ministry of Health to develop a coherent and coordinated approach to developing and distributing nationally consistent messages for obesity prevention, physical activity and nutrition via the DHBs' HEHA Project Managers.
|
|
Developing and implementing a communications plan that will include developing themes and associated activities, creating public understanding of the themes, and developing appropriate resources.
|
Last updated: 03/07/09.
|
|
