New statistics are revealing alarming trends and what health experts say is an urgent need for Government intervention.

New data released on December 14, 2023, from the Ministry of Health raises concerns about the health of New Zealanders, as the latest figures show that only 46.5 per cent of adults are meeting global guidelines for physical activity.

 This is a significant drop of 5 per cent from the previous year, making this the first year that adults are not meeting the national guidelines in physical activity.

At the same time, obesity rates are increasing, with a 2 per cent annual rise over the last five years and a concerning 4 per cent increase in children.

These trends highlight a need for immediate action to address a growing health crisis.

The impact of low physical activity is not only affecting the public health system, costing over $500 million annually, but it is also resulting in a substantial loss to the economy, estimated at over $2.3 billion per year.

Mental health is also a major concern, with 70 per cent of individuals experiencing some level of distress, according to 2022 rates.

 Approximately 9 per cent of the population requires professional help, this figure rises to over 16% for young adults. Recent studies have shown that physical activity is the most effective way to improve mental health, yet it receives less attention compared to other interventions.

Richard Beddie, CEO of ExerciseNZ, recently attended a meeting with the World Health Organisation in Geneva, where he was one of seven global experts discussing strategies to increase activity levels worldwide.

Richard is urging the new government to work with the exercise industry to develop measures that not only save taxpayer money but also improve the health and wellness of New Zealanders.

The country has an opportunity to lead in preventive measures if decisive action is taken.

“If we address this issue correctly, we can save taxpayers billions of dollars. If we don’t, the situation will only worsen. Past governments have failed to take enough action, and the solution is clear; we just need to implement it,” says Richard.

For more details on the comprehensive report, please visit:

https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/news-items/latest-new-zealand-health-survey-results-provide-valuable-information-about-health-and-wellbeing-new