Title:
Imported Foods Raise Obesity, Health Issues for
Pacific Islanders
Description: This is
a VOA Special English Technology Report.
See text below
Text:
The World Health Organization says obesity rates are
rising in Pacific island countries. So, too, are
health problems linked to being overweight. The WHO
says a major reason for the rising obesity rates is
an increase in imported foods. It says many Pacific
islanders have replaced their traditional diets of
vegetables and fruits with imported processed foods.
Doctor Temu Waqanivalu is with the World Health
Organization's South Pacific office in Suva, Fiji.
He says many of the imported products lack
nutritional value. But they are widely available, he
says, and often cost less than healthier foods.He
says: "In some of the places, you'd be amazed to see
how a bottle of Coke is cheaper than a bottle of
water."Doctor Waqanivalu says the increase in
imported foods is only part of the problem. He says
problems with agriculture production limit the
availability of healthier foods. And a lack of
physical activity among many Pacific islanders only
adds to the obesity problem. The WHO says more than
fifty percent of the population is overweight in at
least ten Pacific island countries. The rate is as
high as eighty percent among women in the territory
of American Samoa. Fiji had the lowest obesity rate
at thirty percent.In all, almost ten million people
live in Pacific island countries. The WHO estimates
that about forty percent of them have health
disorders related to diet and nutrition. Diabetes
rates are among the highest in the world.
Forty-seven percent of the people in American Samoa
have diabetes. So do forty-four percent of the
people in Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand. By
comparison, the diabetes rate is thirteen percent in
the United States, a country that has its own
problems with rising obesity. Officials also note an
increase in nutritional problems like anemia and not
enough vitamin A in the diets of Pacific islanders.
Doctor Waqanivalu says treating conditions related
to obesity and diet puts pressure on limited health
resources and budgets. Earlier this year, leaders of
island nations met in Vanuatu for the first-ever
Pacific Food Summit. Doctor Waqanivalu says the
issues are finally getting the attention they
deserve.And that's the VOA Special English
Development Report. You can post comments and find
transcripts, MP3s and podcasts of our programs at
voaspecialenglish.com.
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Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
the window below using any of a number of different services
including Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail.
