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Why?
Overweight and obesity have a significant impact on preventable diseases in New Zealand.- One in three (36.1%) New Zealand adults are overweight and one in four (26.5%) are obese (Ministry of Health 2008)
- This is seen more frequently in Pacific populations who are about 2.5 times more likely to be in the obese category
- It is also seen more frequently in Māori who are about 1.5 times more likely to be obese
- Obesity is associated with a long list of adult conditions, the most common being type 2 diabetes, heart disease, circulatory problems, kidney disease, and some cancers
- Reducing overweight and obesity in New Zealand benefits all New Zealanders
- There is evidence that as an individual puts on weight the risk of type 2 diabetes and other diseases also increases.
However, reducing overweight and obesity can have a huge benefit. Research suggests that every 1.0kg of body weight lost reduces:
- systolic blood pressure by 0.3 mmHg, and
- LDL cholesterol by 1%
In addition, a 5-10% weight loss is associated with a 10% improvement in a quality of life score.
Where does this fit?
We are doing lots of work to prevent current and future generations from getting obese. This is largely covered by the national HEHA strategy and many local initiatives. For example, raising awareness of good nutrition, working with the food industry to provide healthier options and helping local bodies to design cities which support activity.
The health sector is also working to help manage and treat those already obese or overweight. But opinion and practice varies on the most effective interventions. When should someone be referred for some nutritional advice and/or when should someone be referred for surgery? What’s more, do interventions need to be tailored for those most affected - Māori, Pacific and South Asian?
The aims of this guideline will be to answer these and many other questions. Therefore its scope will focus on the treatment and management of overweight and obesity but leave the prevention aspects to the broader HEHA strategy.
What is it going to do?
The guidelines and the implementation plan will give providers a summary of all the evidence they need to know regarding how to best manage those who are obese and overweight.
Rather than reinvent the wheel, we can use the material from the UK, Canada and Australian guidelines on obesity as the basis of the New Zealand guidelines. However, other countries guidelines do not focus on the populations in most need in New Zealand - Maori, Pacific peoples and South Asian. A particular focus will be to ensure that as priority groups the needs and the best management options for these populations are part of these guidelines.
