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Weight Management

Key Areas

Weight Management

Obesity is considered a major risk factor for many chronic, debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Over the past two decades the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled in New Zealand... Read more

Obesity is considered a major risk factor for many chronic, debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Over the past two decades the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled in New Zealand adults. Obesity is more common in Māori, Pacific and South Asian populations compared with other New Zealanders.

Lifestyle approaches involve combined (eg, food, activity and behavioural based approaches – the FAB approach) rather than single factor approaches to weight loss.  The FAB approach should be the first treatment option for weight loss and sustained for weight maintenance.

Maintaining a healthy body weight requires an environment and society where individuals, families and whanau, and communities are supported to eat well and live physically active lives.

Pedalling harder for bike transport

Case Study

by admin • posted on 10 August 2008

Bike Wise, the nationwide cycling campaign, has the opportunity of decades – the convergence of environmental action and high petrol prices.

Project Manager Amy England sees these influences as catalysts to help encourage more people to bike. Biking is becoming a very popular transport option for many people.

“Bike Wise is working hard to change people’s travel behaviour.  Bike Wise is not just about getting people to take part in a biking event one day in the year, but to also continue biking throughout the year for transport and leisure.  We really want to grow these events and continue to promote biking throughout New Zealand.”

This means tackling barriers that inhibit people from biking to work and school each day such as encouraging employers to provide bike stands and showers for people to use after their ride.  

The Bike Wise programme is funded by the NZ Transport Agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

Amy says the key success factor of the Bike Wise programme is the nationwide network of local and regional event co-ordinators who initiate and produce many cycling events as a part of Bike Wise month.  

The events are community driven and mainly staffed by volunteers through schools, regional and city councils, the New Zealand Police, regional sports trusts, businesses, environmental groups, parents, district health boards, health and cycling advocates, the retail sector and more.  

There are three key events that are part of the Bike Wise programme ‘Go By Bike Day’, the ‘Mayoral Challenge’ and the ‘Bike Wise Battle’ which are all held during ‘Bike Wise month’ where thousands of New Zealanders take part in cycling events held throughout the country.

The events promote safety and biking as a sustainable, healthy and enjoyable form of active transport.  

In 2008 there was a total of 480 Bike Wise events held nationwide with over 105,000 people taking part.  There has been increase since 2007 in the number of events organised as well as the number of people participating.

Bike Wise events will be held throughout New Zealand in February 2009.

For further information contact amy.ejnglankd@nzt2a.govjt.nzs

See also Bikewise

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