Food and Nutrition Monitoring in New Zealand

Food and Nutrition Monitoring in New Zealand
Public Health Intelligence Occasional Bulletin No 19

Date of publication: October 2003

ISBN 0-478-25693-0 (Book)
ISBN 0-478-25694-9 (Internet)
HP 3685

Food and nutrition are major determinants of the health status of New Zealanders. It has been estimated that about 40 percent of deaths in 1997 were attributable to the combined effect of nutrition-related risk factors (including 87 percent of all ischaemic heart disease and 83 percent of all diabetes deaths) (Ministry of Health and The University of Auckland 2003). About 30 percent of the projected two- to three-fold increase in the incidence of diabetes to 2011 will result from the obesity epidemic (the remainder represents demographic trends) (Ministry of Health 2002b).

The authors of this report have presented a comprehensive review of the current state of food and nutrition monitoring in New Zealand. Despite good use being made of the existing data sources, monitoring lacks co-ordination and has some important deficiencies. These are addressed in the report.

The Ministry of Health has a statutory responsibility to monitor and report on the state of New Zealanders’ health. The monitoring of food and nutrition is a critical component of this process. This report provides a strategic direction both for Public Health Intelligence itself and for the wider sector to improve food and nutrition monitoring over the next two to three years.

Food and nutrition monitoring also plays an important role in tracking progress towards the New Zealand Health Strategy’s objectives to improve nutrition and reduce obesity. Food and nutrition monitoring data will also contribute to the development and evaluation of Healthy Eating – Healthy Action implementation plans to achieve these objectives.

Comments about the report should be sent to Public Health Intelligence, Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington.

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Food and Nutrition Monitoring in New Zealand

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