Obesity strengthening grip of diabetes on health system

5th June 2012

Obesity strengthening grip of diabetes on health system

Alarming figures from the Ministry of Health show the number of people who developed diabetes grew by nearly 10% last year.

Over 208,000 people in New Zealand have diabetes. This rate of increase in diabetes prevalence means that on average, a staggering 50 more people were diagnosed with the condition every day of the past year.

If this continues, in less than a decade not only will nearly 400,000 Kiwis have diabetes, but it will cost our country over $1 billion each year in health costs alone. This figure doesn’t include the costs that will follow in other areas such as welfare.

This growth is fuelled mainly by an increase in type 2 diabetes - which is undeniably linked to the significant growth of obesity in our population. Obesity is one of the largest preventable causes of type 2 diabetes.

“If we do nothing to stop the growth in obesity, the cost to our country will be crippling, and not just to our health system” says Chris Baty, Diabetes New Zealand National President.

“We would welcome a discussion on measures which could be adopted to curb our rates of obesity. The reality is there is no quick fix. This is a multi-faceted problem.”

“While there’s no silver bullet, we do know we can prevent obesity through lifestyle interventions that focus on diet and exercise.”

“Obviously individual responsibility is a huge part of this, but if we look at why people are overweight it’s clear tackling obesity is going to require much more. It requires a whole-of-community approach that includes everyone from government (local, regional and national), urban and transport planners, members of the food industry to health professionals, community groups, schools and parents.”

“Financially New Zealand may be in a straitjacket, but if we don’t invest in prevention now, we face a major catastrophe within a decade.”

“It’s time to pull our heads out of the sand and take action.”

ENDS

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