Elections 2020: Judith Collins Says Obese People Should Take Responsibility For ‘Personal Choices’

By RNZ

National Party leader Judith Collins has described obesity as a weakness and says that people should not “blame the systems for their personal choices.”

Yesterday he was asked about his opinion on obesity during a radio interview and today the media in the election campaign asked him about it. He said that obese people should take some personal responsibility.

When told that some had said their comments were heartless, Collins said, “You know what heartless is? Are you really thinking that someone else can cure these problems? We can all take personal responsibility and we all have to acknowledge our little ones. weaknesses in these matter.

“Don’t blame the systems for your personal decisions.”

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that one in three New Zealanders over the age of 15 is obese.

Those who live in areas of socioeconomic deprivation are also more likely to be obese than those who live in less disadvantaged areas.

In addition, statistics show that the prevalence of obesity among adults differs by ethnicity: 67 percent of those from the Pacific, 48 percent of Maori, 29 percent of Europeans / others, and 14 percent of Asian adults are obese.

About one in nine children ages two to fourteen is obese.

Union leader Jacinda Ardern was also asked about obesity today.

“I think on an issue like this, people are, we all are, products of our environment. There is no denying that and therefore we have to consider all the multiple factors that contribute to obesity problems in New Zealand. .

“I think if you are so simplistic in simply calling it a personal liability problem, then it will never be a problem that we collectively solve.”

She thought it showed that “with Nacional we will not see any progress on the issue.”

“If it is just an opinion that they have no role to play and that there is no difference the government can make on these issues, then it does tell you that in one of the most important health problems we have, you will see nothing of the opposition in him. “

New Zealand leader Winston Peters was also asked about the issue.

“A tsunami of obesity problems is coming, it is a critical issue and our healthcare system is facing a nightmare unless we get going here and right now to do something about it.”

When asked if it was a matter of personal responsibility or external factors, she said: “It is a combination; it is often external factors, often it is some people, unfortunately [have] they got two or three jobs: their chances of stopping to … follow good gastronomic practices are not affordable. They’re buzzing with take out meals and whatever.

“We can all condemn them and say what we want, but the reality is that they will have sadly cut lives and many preventable diseases and I would like to think that this country has a serious and practical dialogue about it rather than just condemning people.”