Parliament's health select committee has voted unanimously to hold a public inquiry into obesity.
Committee chair, Green MP Sue Kedgley, says obesity and type two diabetes are probably the most serious health issues facing New Zealand. She says 10% of children and 21% of adults in New Zealand are obese.
Kedgley says the inquiry will look at why New Zealand is experiencing epidemics of obesity and type two diabetes, what the effect is on children's health, the costs to the health system and what can be done to address the problems. She says all issues will be up for debate during the wide-ranging inquiry.
Anti-obesity campaigners say the inquiry is a welcome sign the problem is finally being taken seriously by politicians.
Fight the Obesity Epidemic spokesperson, Robyn Toomath, says the parliamentary inquiry is crucial because the problem is too complex to be dealt with one issue at a time. Toomath says one idea would be to include the promotion of anti-obesity measures as part of the Public Health Act.
The Obesity Action Coalition says it would hope the inquiry makes recommendations to require spaces for physical activity as well as encouraging healthy eating in the schools and workplaces.
Jim Mann, a Professor in Nutrition at Otago University and a long term anti-obesity campaigner, says an orchestrated approach is needed to tackle what he calls the greatest health problem of our time.
The National Party says there is broad political support among MPs for an inquiry into obesity.
National's health spokesman and committee member, Tony Ryall, says the inquiry is necessary and the results will be useful. Ryall says he does not believe the government is doing enough to tackle obesity and type two diabetes, which are growing problems throughout the developed world.
The committee is calling for submissions by April 26.
