Introducing our speakers
speech abstract
What do we want to achieve with Health Promotion?
What do we want to achieve with Health Promotion? What are the primary
objectives from the 2004 Health Strategy? Obesity is a huge and growing
problem with an estimated cost of one billion dollars a year. The
impact is mainly on type two diabetes which is increasing in prevalence
in young New Zealanders. What are the different approaches we can take
with regard to obesity prevention and how successful are they likely to
be? The population based approaches include targeted programmes for
high risk individuals, targeted health promotion, education based
public health programmes and legislation or regulation. There is some
evidence in favour of intense programmes for high risk groups but
little for broad, education based approaches. It is time to consider a
regulatory and legislative response to this epidemic.
biography
I started my training in endocrinology at the end of 1985 but on
acquiring specialist status realised that I also enjoyed the challenges
of acute internal medicine. I have continued to be a keen supporter of
"general" medicine and it is in this capacity that I have been an
examiner for the College of Physicians since 1995. I have had many
roles within diabetes including President of the New Zealand Society
for the Study of Diabetes from 2000 – 2003 and currently as
representative on the council of the Western Pacific Region of the
International Diabetes federation. In my employment I have taken up a
management role working half-time as a clinical director. In 2002 my
frustration with a clinical approach to the problem of obesity led me
to set up the advocacy group FOE with Sarah Thomson, CEO of Diabetes
New Zealand.
I have two terrific daughters in their late teens and we all share a
passion for travelling. But when it comes to my enthusiasm for cycling,
running and tramping they think I’m crazy.
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