67% of adults in Fiji are obese

More than 67 per cent of adults in Fiji are overweight or obese, Health Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu revealed yesterday.

Dr Lalabalavu made the alarming disclosure while launching a nutrition labelling workshop at the Grand Pacific Hotel, describing the figures as “warning signals” of a public health crisis.

“These are not just statistics – they are warning signals,” Dr Lalabalavu said.

“We are witnessing a public health crisis that demands action from every sector.”

He said the obesity problem affects Fijians from children to adults and the numbers are increasing each year.

When asked about the Ministry’s priorities in the new 2025-2026 financial year to tackle non-communicable diseases and diabetes, Dr Lalabalavu said funding was allocated through NCD programmes covering preventative work.

“Funding is always through NCD programs, but it covers a whole range of other work that is done within the Ministry – that is the preventative part,” he told this masthead.

Dr Lalabalavu said the Ministry works closely with the Consumer Council of Fiji and the Ministry of Agriculture to tackle NCDs in a holistic way.

He said the government would promote healthy living through wellness programmes while also focusing on screening to identify new cases and ensure patients receive proper treatment.

Dr Lalabalavu acknowledged that most Fijians buy cheaper imported foods while healthy options like vegetables have become expensive.

“Most of our food that we buy are the cheap ones, imported ones and the vegetables, all the healthy foods are quite expensive now,” he said.

“It is something the government will really have to look into to see how people make the right choice of food that they eat and also having access to healthy food choices that are out there.”

ENDS