Media Release

21 September 2006

Anti-Obesity Campaign Short On Specifics

Government acknowledgement of the need to reduce the number of overweight and obese children in New Zealand is timely but the campaign announced today is very short on specifics, says New Zealand First’s health spokesperson Barbara Stewart.

“It also pre-empts the findings of the Health Select Committee, which has been conducting an Inquiry into the causes of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

“Taxpayers could justifiably wonder if they are getting value for the $67 million spend up when it includes such things as a celebrity “lifestyle ambassadors” campaign and a campaign to encourage less time in front of television and computers. If these are going to run on television they might be somewhat self-defeating,” said Mrs Stewart.

“Nor are there details of how “encouraging voluntary moves in the advertising industry to reduce marketing of unhealthy food to children” will be achieved.

“The need to target parents, who should have significant input into their children’s diets, scarcely rates a mention.

“The campaign is mainly about education but by now most people should be aware of the causes and effects of obesity – what we need to hear is what positive action the Government intends to take to improve the health of our children,” said Mrs Stewart.

ENDS

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