The CEO of Samoa's Ministry of Health says urbanisation is a huge contributor to obesity rates in the country.
A report by the World Health Organisation last year ranked Samoa as having one of the highest rates of obesity in the world.
Samoa’s Director General of Health and CEO of the Ministry of Health, Leausa Dr Take Naseri. Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
The Ministry of Health has just launched it's NOBESITY programme targetting school children between Years 1-8 in urban areas of the country.
Leausa Dr Take Naseri says he has observed greater numbers of obesity in children in urban areas as opposed to those in rural areas.
"It's all part of urbanisation. People are moving in to town and most of the families now earn income. They earn a salary and then it's all about choices now - what to buy. And they have access to a lot of food. Different foods that are easily available and easily accessed and yet they are unhealthy."
Leausa Dr Take Naseri