Tariana Turia, New Zealand Associate Health Minister announces that the State funding for obesity surgery will undergo a $2 million increase in the period of the next four years. According to the Health official this leads to 300 additional surgeries of that kind.

The Health Minister herself underwent bariatric surgery last year. The justification of the raising budget is that obesity causes conditions such as diabetes. Nevertheless, only patients can obtain the financial support, willing to be cured of the disease in the long run and support the surgical treatment by changing their unhealthy lifestyles.

Opponents of the decision state that the tax payer should only pay for those who already showed the engagement by proving a significant weight loss before they receive an operation. This is to avoid financing patients who only use the operation for cosmetic improvements. The average costs for each surgical intervention are an estimated sum of $15,000 up to $20,000.

Other critics point out that the budget for healthy-eating campaigns and education got reduced which could prevent people from becoming obese in the first place. The surgeries only represent the very final option o people who cannot simply undergo a strict diet anymore. The prevention of obesity and food-addictions should be promoted especially among children.