Obesity is not only known to contribute to health risks such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type II diabetes mellitus, but can also be associated with post operative complications (Amin, Sales & Brenkel, 2006; Best, 2005; Flier & Maratos-Flier, 2005; Ministry of Health [MOH], 2009a; Von Haehling, Horwich, Fonarow, & Anker, 2007; WHO, 2006).

Since 2000, ophthalmologists providing clinical services in Madang, Papua New Guinea, have become aware of local adult prisoners presenting with gradual vision loss. An informal assessment conducted in Beon Jail in 2007 indicated that at least 40 local inmates had a significant level of visual impairment. This was most commonly associated with atrophy of the...

Dental caries has been shown to be the most prevalent chronic disease in early childhood. Early childhood caries (ECC) has been linked to higher caries experience in adolescence. Common risk factors associated with dental caries – oral hygiene, diet, SES, and ethnicity – have also been associated with poorer oral health (dental erosion and periodontal...

Food insecurity is defined as: "limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited ability to acquire acceptable foods in a socially acceptable way" (Anderson, 1990). Food insecurity is associated with poorer nutritional outcomes and in the 2002 New Zealand Children's Nutrition Survey half of households studied reported food insecurity (Parnell, 2005).

This paper analyses the issue of childhood obesity within an economic policy framework. It also reviews the evidence of trends in obesity in children and provides an overview of recent and planned childhood obesity preventative health programs.