Childhood Obesity in New Zealand - Doc

Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
Childhood obesity

 Childhood obesity in New Zealand is prevalent among 1 in
8 children
 12% are obese of age 2-14 years, 21% children overweight
 Burden of childhood obesity is very high in Māori and Pacific
children
 18% of Maori and 29% Pacific children diagnosed with
obesity in 2016-2017
 Causative factors- consumption of fast food, sweet
beverages, low physical activity, Maternal obesity,
television advertisement of unhealthy food, Ethnic
differences and low awareness
(Ministry of Health NZ, 2018; Howe et al., 2015)
Assessment 1
What is the issue?

Source: (Ministry of Health NZ
2018)

 Main cause of the preventable deaths in
New Zealand
 Excess prevalence of early life risk factors in
in Māori and Pacific infants
 short term and long term health risks-
cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes
 Leads to poor mental health outcomes
 Persistence across life course (Howe et al.,
2015)
Assessment 1
Why is the issue important?

(Source: Ministry of Health NZ 2018)

www.oag.govt.nz, 2018

 Surveillance-monitor health events, and determine
control measures
 Screening - recognise individuals with the health risk
factors
 Health education program- communicate change
related to health issue
 Counselling programmes- promote self-care
 Social media campaigns- create mass awareness (Baker
et al., 2015;
 Public health interventions like physical activity and
social media campaigns are successful in other
countries Briggs et al., 2016)
Assessment 1
Why public health intervention is relevant?

Nutrition based intervention in South Indiana
HEROES initiative - (Healthy, Energetic, Ready,
Outstanding, Enthusiastic, Schools)
school based imitative for childhood obesity
initiative comprise of-
• physical activity education,
• nutrition education,
• nutrition service in school canteen,
• health promotion for staff and family (King
et al., 2014)
Assessment 2
Interventions in other countries