One in three adults overweight - survey

The rate of obesity among New Zealanders is continuing to climb, according to results from the largest-ever survey of the country's health.

A Portrait of Health: Key results of the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey, involved interviews with over 17,000 adults and children, including the measurement of their height and weight.

The Health Ministry survey showed there was an increase in the prevalence of obesity in adults from 1997 to 2006/2007, although the increase appeared to be slowing.

It showed one in three (36 percent) adults were now overweight and a further one in four (27 percent) were obese.

With children aged two to 14, 68 percent had a body mass considered normal, one in five were overweight and a further one in 12 were obese.

There had been no change in the proportion of Maori adults and children who were obese since previous health surveys were conducted.

Health Minister David Cunliffe said the survey highlighted many positive aspects of New Zealanders' health.

Nearly all children and nine out of 10 adults had a local doctor they went to first when feeling unwell or injured, although 4 percent of children and 6 percent of adults were unable to see a GP when they needed to within the past 12 months.

Mr Cunliffe said that figure had almost halved since 1996/97 for children and 2002/03 for adults.

He said some encouragement could be taken from the fact that the obesity tide appeared to be slowing, but there was a long way to go.

However, the Independent Practitioners Association Council (IPAC), representing more than 800 community health practices around the country, said claims that figures showed New Zealanders were in good health and had excellent access to health care were misleading.

IPAC chair Dr Bev O'Keefe said it was a concern that almost ten percent of all adults didn't have a family doctor they could go to.

"And figures indicating over half of these adults weren't able to see a GP when they needed to points to significant stress at the local medical centre."

Dr O'Keefe said there were fewer GPs practising now than there were seven years ago and community clinics in many parts of the country were struggling to meet patient demand. "The survey points to two out of three adults being diagnosed with a health condition expected to last six months. There is a growing patient load at the same time that we are losing four doctors and nurses a week from general practice."

Hazardous drinking patterns also emerged from the survey's data, with 54 percent of 18 to 24-year-old males and one in seven adults reporting potentially hazardous drinking patterns.

Maori and Pacific peoples as well as people living in areas of high deprivation continued to have poorer health outcomes compared with others in New Zealand.

"Improving these outcomes remains an important challenge for both the health system and for wider society in New Zealand," Mr Cunliffe said.

A Portrait of Health also includes information on common health conditions, lifestyle factors that contribute to health, and the overall physical and mental health of New Zealanders.

The ministry was confident the survey results accurately reflected the health of New Zealanders.

"The survey data will be of huge interest to policy makers, health sector professionals, academic institutions and non-government organisations," Mr Cunliffe said.

Data on smoking included in the report was released by Prime Minister Helen Clark last Friday.

It showed that the number of New Zealanders smoking had fallen to its lowest level since monitoring of tobacco use began more than 30 years ago.

A record low of 19.9 percent of the population over the age of 15 were smokers.