By TODD, Rebecca
Ancient Maori eating habits are coming under the spotlight in a bid to improve modern diets and wellbeing.
The Social Report 2008, which has just been released, shows health-related outcomes for both Maori and Pacific people have not improved in several areas, such as obesity rates, hazardous drinking and participation in physical activity.
Partly as a result of high-fat diets, Maori have, on average, the poorest health of any ethnic group in New Zealand, with abnormally high rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke and heart failure.
At the NZ Dietetic Association’s national conference this month, health researcher Christina McKerchar will address the dramatic changes in Maori eating habits during the past 200 years in a talk called From Kereru to KFC.
Obtaining food in pre- European times was a prized accomplishment and a symbol of hospitality and generosity, she said.
This culture carried through to today, but with high-fat foods now readily available, KFC was replacing the traditional diet of birds, fish and vegetation.
Health Sponsorship Council research has shown some Maori regard healthy eating as “too expensive” and requiring too much time, effort and planning.
It found healthy food awareness was high, but understanding of the importance of healthy eating was low.
The Canterbury District Health Board’s executive director of Maori and Pacific health, Hector Matthews, said changing eating habits was a struggle.
“A lot of people think healthy eating is a choice, but if veges are $30 a kilo, it’s not a choice for probably half the country.”
Matthews said encouraging healthy eating on marae was key.
Community garden projects, where people grew their own vegetables, and programmes providing fruit in schools were targeting low-decile groups where Maori were dominant, he said.
Tairawhiti District Health Board senior dietician Hiki Pihema said few Maori asked for assistance with healthy eating.
“The whole whanau needs to be brought into the picture, as often bad habits start in childhood,” she said. “Kids often go from house to house to house, and the whanau as a whole needs to be aware and take some responsibility for healthy eating habits as a group.
“Unfortunately, in many places today, fizzy drink is cheaper than milk, but milk is still the better choice, and water is free. These and other messages need to reach more Maori and create change.”
Victoria University lecturer Dr Evan Roberts has been awarded $150,000 from the Health Research Council to look at how colonisation affected Maori health.
“Consistent long-term measures of health will increase our understanding of the social determinants of health and how political and economic change affected the health of the New Zealand population,” he said.
“One of the motivating factors is to understand the roots of today’s obesity crisis.”
The research will be based on height and weight data available through prison and military records and health surveys.
(c) 2008 Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
Comments