Obesity
The obesity fight
Initiatives to target obesity are not working because we are fat shaming people and not addressing the causes. Two social science researchers at Auckland university, Dr Darren Powell and George… Audio
Feeding pets scraps causing animal obesity epidemic
Scrap the leftovers - under-the-table tidbits are contributing to an obesity blow-out among New Zealand cats and dogs, new figures show.
XXL seats for aeroplanes
Forget about leg room. What about body room on long haul flights? Audio
Health outlook for obese children grim - researcher
Three quarters of obese children are at greater risk of long-term heart disease, a new study shows.
Gene helps explain high levels of obesity in Samoa: study
American researchers have discovered close to half of all Samoans have a gene that increases their risk of becoming obese. It's likely a results of the ancient migrations across the Pacific - those… Audio
Healthy Star Ratings - 'not perfect but the best we've got'
Winsome Parnell is a dietician and a member of the advisory committee to MPI on Health Star ratings. She says despite some flaws the five scale front-of-pack labels are helping consumers make… Audio
Lawyer turned activist leads push to ditch health star rating
Claire Deeks is a counterfeit lawyer & Auckland mother who has put together a petition to the New Zealand and Australian Governments to ditch the health star rating system. She's worried that both… Audio
Pacific Kryptonite
The fructose in sugar is like kryptonite to Maori and Pasifika people so Hastings Girls' High School has begun a healthy food revolution in their community. Video, Audio, Gallery
A fat gene?
Giles Yeo is is a neuroscientist and geneticist from Cambridge University who studies the the brain and how it controls weight. In a new BBC documentary called 'Why Are We Getting So Fat?', he travels… Audio
Tubby toddlers
Child obesity is a growing problem in New Zealand, and one health initiative is underway, to get preschoolers trim and at the gym. According to Ministry of Health statistics, one in nine children… Audio
Fat Science
Auckland diabetes specialist Robyn Toomath argues that society is to blame for the rise in obesity, and Massey University sociologist and runner Andrew Dickson shares his experience of being a big… Audio
Call to ban junk food ads within 300m of schools
The Morgan Foundation is calling for a ban on junk food advertising within 300 metres of schools - including on dairies.
NZ schools surrounded by junk food
Councils are being urged to toughen up their rules, after a study showing most schools are less than 1km from outlets selling unhealthy food.
Call for regulations on unhealthy food near schools
Pressure is growing for tougher rules on neighbourhood dairies and fast food outlets following a study which showed most schools are less than a kilometre from unhealthy food shops. Audio
Fat Science: Dr Robyn Toomath
For 14 years, endocrinologist and diabetes specialist Dr Robyn Toomath fronted a vocal and visible campaign highlighting obesity. But in November last year, she wound up the action group she'd… Audio
Auckland facing an uncontrollable health crisis
A group looking at how to boost activity and improve the health of Aucklanders, says its report on obesity rates shows the city is facing an uncontrollable health crisis. The report says more than… Audio
Public health experts urge action on obesity
More than 70 public health specialists are urging the government to tax sugary drinks to tackle New Zealand's high rates of childhood obesity.
Niva Retimanu - Running For Her Life
You'll know Niva Retimanu's voice - she's one of New Zeland's best newsreaders. What you might not know is Niva's fight for her health. She joins Wallace to talk about her new book Leading From Behind… Audio
Surge in demand for adult nappies
The market for adult nappies is surging. Lauren Coleman-Lochner is a retail and consumer reporter for Bloomberg News who's looked at the sector. Audio
Research into children's literacy, obesity and mental health gets $34m
A new project aims to cut the number of children who struggle to read and make NZ the only country in the world to successfully reduce childhood obesity.