The United Nations say there is a desire for healthier living in the Pacific, but the ability and environment to attain this is lacking.
Market in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
This comes as celebrity chef Robert Oliver was recently promoted by the UN Development Programme to promote sustainable development, specifically focusing on food.
The UNDP's Country Director of the Pacific Office in Fiji Bakhodir Burkhanov said that Mr Oliver would be advocating healthier food choices and how they have the potential to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases.
According to Mr Burkhanov, there was enough available information out there, and that it was about creating opportunities and making good choices more affordable and accessible.
"We believe that fundamentally the issues about the economics," he said.
"Surveys after surveys show that determinants of food choices are number one, cost. Two, availability and three, convenience.
"People especially the poor have very limited access to healthy diets. They basically cannot make healthy choices because cost largely determines their choices."
A recent study by the World Health Organisation placed Pacific countries in the top ten nations for youth obesity rates.
Fresh produce at market, Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
