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SUNDAY STAR TIMES
Those living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods of New Zealand are offered more junk food options in their local supermarkets than in the affluent areas. (file)
People living in disadvantaged socio-economic areas have three times more fast food outlets and takeaways around them than those in less deprived areas, according to a new study.
They are also shown more advertisements for unhealthy foods and more space devoted to junk food in their local supermarket
According to a three-year study conducted by researchers from the University of Auckland, which, as a world premiere, mapped the country's food environments and policies.
The study, led by Professor of Population Nutrition and World Health Boyd Swinburn, aimed to provide a comprehensive picture of the safety of New Zealand food environments
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Between 2014 and 2017, researchers examined the composition of more than 13,000 packaged foods, food labeling, marketing and prices as well as foods sold in schools, food stores and restaurants. hospitals and sports centers.
It was "obvious" that New Zealand's very high rates of obesity came from "the unhealthy state of the food environments" where people make their food choices, they discovered.
New Zealand has consolidated its status as one of the largest countries in the world.
Nearly one in three New Zealand adults and one in ten children are obese. In addition, 35% of adults are overweight.
The 2016/17 health survey in New Zealand showed that children living in the most deprived areas were 2.5 times more likely to be obese than those living in the most disadvantaged areas. less disadvantaged. The study found 13.7 fast food and takeaway spots per 10,000 people in the most deprived areas versus 3.7 in the least deprived areas. Despite the messages about the rising rate of obesity in children, children are bombarded with marketing for unhealthy food in all media, said Swinburn
between 6pm and 8pm kids get an average eight television commercials per hour for unhealthy foods. 43 percent of food advertisements in teen magazines were for junk food, and nearly three quarters of less healthy breakfast cereals for kids use cartoon characters as promotional marketing devices.
University of Auckland Professor Boyd Swinburn led the three-year study.
Food in schools was also "surprisingly unhealthy" – of the 819 schools surveyed, over 90% used unhealthy food for fundraising and 42% sold sugary drinks.
There were an average of 2.4 take-home meals or convenience stores According to 1965, nine percent of the packaged foods analyzed were classified as ultra-processed, and 71 percent of them were classified as unsuitable marketing in children, given nutritional value.
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There are 13.7 fast food outlets and takeaway meals for 10,000 people in the most disadvantaged areas compared to 3.7 in the least disadvantaged areas.
More than half of the foods had a health rating of less than 3.5 stars. Foods displaying the HSR label were healthier than those who did not have the etiquette.
Even then, one out of four healthy packaged foods had a nutritional claim on the front of the package.
"People choose their food in the food environments that surround them and when these are dominated by unhealthy foods and drinks, it's not surprising that our diets are unhealthy and that our rate of 39, obesity is so high. "You do not have to look far to see why we have such health disparities in rates of obesity, diabetes, dental problems and even mental health."
New Zealand is the third largest nation in the world, yet we still bomb people, especially children, with unhealthy foods.
Those who have the power to change that – the government and the big food companies – could do better, suggests the study.
"New Zealand's food environments are largely unhealthy and policy implementation is weak."
The research, funded by the Health Research Council and the Heart Foundation, found that the government also was not at the level of international best practices for most recommended food policies.
"Improving food environments by the government and the food industry would go a long way in breaking cycles of poverty and poor health."
– Stuff
