Pacific Island leaders have been asked to lead by example and eat healthily.
Tonga Prime Minister, 'Akilisi Pohiva Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koro Vaka'uta
Tonga's Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva made the appeal in an interview with the Samoa Observer while discussing the impact of child obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Pacific.
Mr Pohiva said NCDs had everything to do with eating habits and lifestyle.
Pacific leaders meet and talk about the issue, yet initiatives they advocate do not have an impact, he said.
The effect in Tonga was telling, with life expectancy falling from 71 to 68 years of age, the prime minister said.
The only way to address the issue was for the leaders to walk the talk, Mr Pohiva said, who announced he intended to promote a year long, weight loss competition among leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum summit next month in Nauru.
