Public Health Expert • Mar 24, 2017 •
Professor Tony Blakely, Dr Kirsten Coppell, Dr Cristina Cleghorn, Dr Andrea Teng Is body mass index (BMI) relentlessly increasing in NZ, or plateauing? In this blog we present trends in BMI by ethnicity in NZ going back to the 1980s. Over the last four decades the annual increase in BMI is linear, relentless increasing; no sign of a plateau, yet. Read More
Public Health Expert • Feb 28, 2017 •
By Professors Tony Blakely, Nick Wilson, Boyd Swinburn and Cliona Ni Mhurchu The Government has an action plan to tackle childhood obesity, but it lacks a tax on sugary drinks – a strategy for which there is good evidence. A new Treasury Report on soft drink tax price elasticities has just emerged. It has the look of a strategically published … Read More
Guest Work • Feb 16, 2017 •
by Linda Cobiac, University of Melbourne; Lennert Veerman, Cancer Council NSW, and Tony Blakely, University of Melbourne In an Australian study published today, we show that if the government were to combine taxes and subsidies on a range of foods and beverages, it could substantially improve the health of Australians and potentially free up … Read More
Public Health Expert • Dec 16, 2016 •
By Prof Tony Blakely, Prof Nick Wilson, Dr Cristina Cleghorn, Dr Linda Cobiac A study published today finds that the UK soft drink levy being introduced in 2017 is likely to benefit health (reduced obesity, diabetes and dental caries) – when considering a range of different Drinks Industry responses. In this Blog we comment on these results and the … Read More
Brendan Moyle • Dec 05, 2016 •
Much has been made recently of the growing obesity rates in NZ. And the “obesogenic environment” is attributed as one of the underlying causes. We are collectively less active than optimal, have too much food readily available, and many eat inadequate quantities of fruit and vegetables. Fad-diets rise and wither away as the promised short-cuts to lose weight can’t be … Read More
Guest Work • Nov 11, 2016 •
By Gita Mishra, The University of Queensland After almost four-and-a half decades and from modest beginnings, the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study has evolved into one of the most significant long-term tracking studies (known as longitudinal cohort studies) in the world. It started with just over 1,000 participants, born from April 1972 to March 1973. This cohort … Read More
Public Health Expert • Oct 31, 2016 •
Dr Andrea Teng, June Atkinson, Dr George Disney, Prof Nick Wilson, Prof Diana Sarfati, Dr Melissa McLeod, Prof Tony Blakely Work we just published shows some adverse trends in cancer deaths by ethnic group, as well as some favourable trends. In this blog we discuss some of the key findings of this research and what the options are for NZ … Read More
John Kerr • Oct 26, 2016 •
E-cigarettes may have a part to play in fighting the growing obesity epidemic, say New Zealand researchers. Electronic cigarettes have been welcomed by some, but not all, public health researchers as a potential new tool to help smokers kick the tobacco habit. Now a new commentary published today in Nicotine & Tobacco Research lays out the case for vaping – using e-cigarettes – … Read More
John Kerr • Aug 30, 2016 •
It seems the weather is no excuse. New Zealand’s cold, wet and windy urban centers are also where the most people get out walking and cycling. Source: NZTA The findings come from a new report examining levels of active transport – getting around by foot or bicycle – and overall population health in New Zealand’s six largest cities. The … Read More
John Kerr • Jul 26, 2016 •
High rates of obesity in Samoa have been linked to a particular version of a gene which is prevalent among the island’s population. However, relying on the often repeated formula of ‘gene X’ causes ‘condition Y’ risks oversimplification, say experts. The results, published today in Nature Genetics, were based on an analysis of DNA samples and basic health data collected from … Read More