New data released on the 14th of December 2023 from the
Ministry of Health raises concerns about the health of New
Zealanders, as the latest figures show that only 46.5% of
adults are meeting global guidelines for physical
activity.
This is a significant drop of 5% from
the previous year, making this the first year that adults
are not meeting the national guidelines in physical
activity.
At the same time, obesity rates are
increasing, with a 2% annual rise over the last five years
and a concerning 4% increase in children. These trends
highlight a need for immediate action to address a growing
health crisis.
The impact of low physical activity is
not only affecting the public health system, costing over
$500 million annually, but it is also resulting in a
substantial loss to the economy, estimated at over $2.3
billion per year.
Mental health is also a major
concern, with 70% of individuals experiencing some level of
distress, according to 2022 rates.
Approximately
9% of the population requires professional help, this figure
rises to over 16% for young adults. Recent studies have
shown that physical activity is the most effective way to
improve mental health, yet it receives less attention
compared to other interventions.
Richard Beddie, CEO
of ExerciseNZ, recently attended a meeting with the World
Health Organisation in Geneva, where he was one of seven
global experts discussing strategies to increase activity
levels worldwide.
Beddie is urging the new government
to work with the exercise industry to develop measures that
not only save taxpayer money but also improve the health and
wellness of New Zealanders.
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The country has an
opportunity to lead in preventive measures if decisive
action is taken.
“If we address this issue
correctly, we can save taxpayers billions of dollars. If we
don’t, the situation will only worsen. Past governments
have failed to take enough action, and the solution is
clear; we just need to implement it,” says
Beddie.
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