10 Jun 2014

Personal relationships key to solve Tonga's obesity

2:15 pm on 10 June 2014

The Women and Children Crisis Centre in Tonga says power and control in relationships is a contributing factor to obesity there.

The Global Burden of Disease Study shows half of the adult population in Tonga is obese, making it the country with the highest proportion of obesity in the world.

Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki says research done by the centre shows 57 percent of women need to ask permission from their partners before seeking healthcare services.

She says 87 percent of women need to tell their partners where they are going to be at all times before leaving the house, which may restrict them from doing exercise.

"I think this is an area where we really need to buckle down and start looking at family relationships, relationships between intimate partners and this issue about power and control. How much power and how much control exists in relationships in Tonga and how is this affecting the physical status of women."

Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki says data collected by Kau Mai Tonga, an organisation which sets up netball teams and tournaments around the country, shows many women do not take part because their husbands don't want them to.