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December 09, 2022
Poor environment boosting youth diabetes
Peter Verschaffelt
Posted On December 9, 2022
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The head of Māori public health advocate Hapai Te Hauora is warning a diabetes tsunami is on the way for Māori.
Download AudioThe head of Māori public health advocate Hapai Te Hauora is warning a diabetes tsunami is on the way for Māori.
Selah Hart says the quality of food on offer in supermarkets and fast food outlets in low income areas like south Auckland is far lower than in wealthier suburbs.
That combined with limited options for physical exercise and other socioeconomic factors are reflected in diabetes turning up much younger.
“We’re getting it in pre-teen and teenage year kids and our Maori and Pacific kids are at most risk so there is a huge amount of work that needs to be undertaken but we have the understand the system has not been built and is not functioning to meet the needs of our Maori and Pacific whanau,” Ms Hart says.
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