Science Media Centre

As the United Nations High Level Meeting on Noncommunicable diseases (NDCs) concludes, some general resolutions have been agreed to – but public health researchers are deploring a lack of action and accountability from Member States. The meeting was held in New York on the 19th and 20th of September, bringing together UN Member States to [...]

A comprehensive nutrition survey has revealed more about what New Zealanders are eating – and how it is affecting our health. Thursday saw the release of the 2008-2009 Adult Nutrition Survey (NZANS) from the Ministry of Health – the first of its kind since the 1997 National Nutrition Survey was carried out. In the survey, [...]

New Zealand’s latest nutrition survey shows the nation’s obesity epidemic surged ahead over the past dozen years — even though the population’s energy intake levels have dropped. Researchers who conducted the 2008-2009 Adult Nutrition Survey (NZANS) say they suspect this means many people are exercising less than they did when the comparable 1997 National Nutrition [...]

Eating slower be the key to losing weight, according to new Kiwi research. A recently published study from Otago University found that women who eat slower have a lower body mass index. The research, led by Dr Caroline Horwath, used a nationwide population survey to identify the link between eating speed and body mass. In [...]

Increasing obesity rates in New Zealand present a real health issue, and experts are saying we need to re-think the way we look at weight gain and dieting. Obesity has had much public focus recently, with high-profile health researchers last week calling on the government to act, and Otago University yesterday releasing a podcast examining [...]

New Zealand’s obesity problem is getting worse and researchers are becoming more vocal about the need for action to avoid a looming health crisis. The latest announcement comes in the form of a video produced by the University of Otago (embedded below). The video explores how to change the current “obesogenic” environment – which provides [...]

Health professionals have called on the government to halt New Zealand’s growing obesity problem, saying it will cost the healthcare system millions if not addressed urgently. In a letter published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, several nutrition and public health experts* concisely laid out the case for urgency in acting against New Zealand’s rising [...]

Sir Peter Gluckman and several colleagues have called for policy makers to take a long view of the causes of obesity and related diseases. In a commentary article published in the international journal Science Translational Medicine, Sir Peter and associates outline the need for a developmental perspective in curbing obesity rates, particularly in developing countries. [...]

Children taking part in a new initiative called Project Energize show significant health benefits, with Energize children less overweight and obese, having smaller waists, and able to run faster than comparison groups, according to a new report published this week. The Energize programme, initiated in 2005, and funded by the Waikato District Health Board, aims to increase [...]

New Zealand scientists have helped establish a link between a mother’s diet while pregnant and the probability that her child will be obese. A team of scientists from New Zealand and the UK, including Sir Peter Gluckman of the Liggins Institute (NZ), examined epigentic modification (chemical changes in the DNA structure) in umbilical tissue from [...]