Why is healthy eating important?

Good nutrition and healthy eating practices in childhood are important in shaping lifelong behaviours, as well as affecting overall health and wellbeing. By supporting parents and caregivers to promote healthy eating for their children, Feeding our Families aims to improve health outcomes for children.

New Zealand is also experiencing a rapid increase in the proportion of obese adults and children. Ten percent of children are obese, and a further 21 percent are overweight. Twenty one percent of adults are obese and a further 35 percent are overweight.

Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and stroke, gallstones and some cancers.