In a recent nutrition survey, researchers notified a tremendous hike in country’s obesity epidemic as compared to past five years inspite of a significant decline in levels of energy intake levels among natives. Further, the findings reflected that a majority of people are less likely to follow a healthy lifestyle as well as exercising. The decline can be considered severe as compared to previous figures obtained during the National Nutrition Survey carried out in 1997.

The survey notified a 27.7% hike in obesity rates among men, a significant increase than 17% estimated in 1997 whereas the figure jumped 27.8% to increase the obesity rates for women as compared to 20.6%.

The Professor of Human Nutrition and Medicine at University of Otago, Professor Jim Mann, commented on the survey findings and said: “It reminds us that we have got a terrible problem ... clearly, we need to be doing something about it. Obesity is particularly common in people who are socioeconomically deprived”. Professor Jim Mann had also served as a consultant on the survey.

Obesity can be considered as a major global problem that also triggers a number of other health problems, including diabetes as well as cardiovascular diseases.