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The Maori Party has welcomed a New Zealand Medical Association report on the obesity epidemic.
The association is recommending government action to tackle what it calls the obesogenic environment people face every day.
Association chair Dr Mark Peterson says obesity is a significant equity issue, with children living in the most deprived areas three times more likely to be obese than children who live in the least deprived areas.
There are also significant ethnic disparities, with Maori and Pasifika being over represented in obesity statistics, along with Asian and Indian ethnic groups.
Along with obvious complications such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, obesity is a factor in certain types of cancers, and a host of other conditions.
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavel says the health, fitness and wellbeing of whanau have been a longstanding priority for the Maori Party.
It secured $10 million this year’s for the Moving the Maori Nation programme to support Maori sporting and cultural activities which promote healthy living.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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