Transcript
The 10 guidelines are issued to health ministries across the region and consist of messages such as drink plenty of water, keep active and don't smoke.
The Pacific community's non-communicable disease advisor, Karen Fukofuka, says the key talking point at the Nadi conference was guideline number one, which advises people to eat a variety of foods from the three food groups in appropriate amounts.
"The key question is around how much the amount of food from the three food groups that people need to eat, so there are specific guidelines for diet and this is focusing on the kinds of food that people should eat and we try to emphasise eating healthy local food."
Health promotion manager Karen Tairea from the Cook Islands health ministry says portion sizes need to be reduced.
"That's a big thing for us. I think everywhere in the Pacific, we love our food and sometimes even if it is a healthier option, the portion size are generally very generous. We know non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are huge issues for us, so having these guidelines, it's things that we can sort of use so that they are making the right choices."
Nutritionist Ronald Laguana from Guam's department of health says people need to be taught the benefits of choosing fresh local produce.
He says Guam's widespread obesity problem is due to the heavy consumption of imported processed foods from the United States.
"The community gardens promote the public community to form their own mini gardens, to grow fruits and vegetables for their families and it allows us to go outdoors and exercise rather than to stay inside your home and watch TV and be couch potatoes."
Chief nutrition officer Salome Namohunu from the Solomons ministry of health says while the guidelines need to be taught in schools, learning depends on good nutrition.
"Studies show that children going to school without breakfast or just without meal, they kind of have a poor academic result and have lots of drop outs and absent days and also we believe that good nutrition at early age will give you a better health in adulthood."
Ms Namohunu says the revised nutrition guidelines are accompanied by more background information than the original document.
"With this revised one we have like specific information for each of the dietary guidelines. It is more explanatory and easier for us especially for those of us who work in the health services."
The Pacific Community says updating the guidelines coincides with the United Nation's decade of action on nutrition.
