Combating Childhood Obesity in New Zealand

This assignment examines current policies, laws, and strategies implemented in New Zealand to combat childhood obesity. It discusses national policies restricting advertising of unhealthy foods, increased availability of dietitians, primary health organization plans, nutrition programs, and school-based health food service policies. The report also highlights the role of public awareness campaigns and individual lifestyle changes in preventing obesity. Finally, it emphasizes the need for more effective policies and stricter regulations on fast food and sugary beverages to effectively address this growing issue.

Running head: Health and environment
Health and environment

Health and environment
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Current policies, law and strategy on children obesity................................................................................3
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................4
References...................................................................................................................................................5
2

Health and environment
Introduction
The report talks about the current policies, laws, and strategies to prevent children obesity
in New Zealand. The government, people, and other authorities play a significant role to prevent
children obesity.
Current policies, law, and strategy on children obesity
Overall obesity rates are increasing among children, therefore, some policies, law, and
strategies have been made to prevent and reduce obesity. They are discussed below.
 The government has made various national policies to prevent and reduce the advertising
of fast foods, soft drinks, and high energy snacks. It will help in reduce and prevent
obesity in children in New Zealand (Brennan, Brownson & Orleans, 2014).
 More dietitians are working in the Auckland areas to prevent obesity in children.
 Primary health organization plans have been made to prevent obesity and overweight of
children in New Zealand.
 Nutrition programs have been conducted in various countries for the prevention of
obesity and overweight.
 Health food service policies are implemented by the government in all the schools for the
children to prevent obesity and overweight. The government imposes restrictions on junk
food and sugar drinks.
 People reduce sedentary behavior and lifestyle and increase physical activity to prevent
obesity (Hawkes, Jewell & Allen, 2013).
 Various comprehensive programs have been implemented to reduce the intake of sugar
beverage, healthy food by the adolescents and children.
 The federal communication commission also provides help to prevent and control
overweight and obesity.
 Public health law and policy, 2006 also provides help to prevent various health issues of
the people.
 The world health organization has also made various policies and strategies to reduce and
prevent obesity (Gortmaker, Swinburn, Levy, Carter, Mabry, Finegood & Moodie, 2011).
3

Health and environment
(NZCPHM Childhood Obesity Policy Statement, 2016)
Conclusion
The government should make some more effective policies and strategies to prevent and
reduce the obesity and overweight. It should impose restrictions on fast food and sugar
beverages.
References
4

Health and environment
Brennan, L. K., Brownson, R. C., & Orleans, C. T. (2014). Childhood obesity policy research
and practice: evidence for policy and environmental strategies. American journal of
preventive medicine, 46(1), e1-e16.
Gortmaker, S. L., Swinburn, B. A., Levy, D., Carter, R., Mabry, P. L., Finegood, D. T., ... &
Moodie, M. L. (2011). Changing the future of obesity: science, policy, and action. The
Lancet, 378(9793), 838-847.
Hawkes, C., Jewell, J., & Allen, K. (2013). A food policy package for healthy diets and the
prevention of obesity and diet‐related non‐communicable diseases: the NOURISHING
framework. Obesity reviews, 14(S2), 159-168.
5