Ultra-processed foods are fuelling a rise in obesity and other serious health problems, according to international experts who say urgent policy changes are needed.
A series of papers published in The Lancet today warned such products – high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats – were linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and mental health issues.
Researchers argue governments must act with measures such as mandatory front-of-pack labelling, sugary drink taxes, and bans on junk food marketing to children.
Health NZ data released today showed one in three adult New Zealanders, 34.2%, were classified as obese, up from 31.3% five years ago.
Rates were even higher in the most deprived areas, where nearly half of adults were obese.
Among children aged 2-14, 11.7% are obese, while 62.2% are a healthy weight. Trends in child obesity have fluctuated in recent years.
Public health nutritionist Helen Eyles said the numbers reflected a food environment stacked against healthy choices.
“Our food supply and food environments are the main driver of nutrition health in New Zealand. An increase in obesity isn’t surprising, given we’re not seeing improvements in those spaces.”
A separate study of more than 4000 New Zealand 12-year-olds, published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, found many adolescents consume diets high in sugar and fat, with poorer diet quality among low-income families and ethnic disparities persisting.
University of Auckland nutrition and dietetics professor Clare Wall told Breakfast that adolescence was a critical time for growth and development.
“Optimising nutrition during this time is essential,” she said. “But disparities linked to income and ethnicity persist.”
Health Minister Simeon Brown ruled out new taxes, saying the focus was investing in health and prevention.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done to make sure we’re investing in primary care and ensuring we’re investing in prevention but not increasing taxes.
“There’s lots of nutritional information that consumers can already access. Our focus is on reducing wait times for patients and making sure our health system is delivering timely healthcare.”
