New Zealand is on target to become the fattest nation on earth within five years, according to a weight loss surgeon, Radio New Zealand reports.
Steven Kelly, whose editorial appears in The New Zealand Medical Journal today, said stomach stapling operations were effective and saved money in the long run, but the Government was not providing enough of the life-saving procedures.
The Canterbury bariatric surgeon said on current trends, New Zealand was about to overtake the United States and Mexico to become the world's fattest nation.
“America, which is currently the fattest, has actually been stable in terms of obesity rates for the last ten years whereas ours continues to grow at one percent a year.”
He said there were just 400 publicly funded stomach stapling operations in New Zealand last year - less than half of the number recommended six years ago.
That was despite the fact the operations, which cost about $20,000 each, saved the health system money long term.
"It's the only operation that you can do that saves you money, so in my mind, it's a no-brainer."