Have Your Cake, But Dont Eat It
I had to chuckle reading the events postings in Kapiti News this week. Lions are selling their Christmas cakes and also doing diabetes testing at the strawberry festival this Saturday. So, buy a cake but please don't eat it.!!
Less amusing was the fearmongering about diabetes from Westbury Pharmacy. According to their quick quiz, one is three times more at risk of diabetes aged over 65. Where is the evidence for this? Maybe the risk is higher, but three times higher? I'm skeptical.
According to Westbury's quiz, with a high score on weight to height (most of us), and age over 65 one is at high risk of diabetes. Other lifestyle indicators such as exercise and diet don't seem to factor highly. However weight to height calculations (or Body Mass Index) can be misleading. According to BMI the All Blacks are morbidly obese. This is because the calculation lumps fat and muscle together in the same category. It is possible to be moderately overweight, have good muscle weight and be fighting fit. So unless you are morbidly obese, treat BMI with a grain of salt.
The Westbury ad also offers free blood pressure tests and links this to diabetes. This is news to me. Do they have any risk ratio for this? The main risk of high blood pressure is the stress it places on the heart and vascular system. The heart has to work harder. Hence cardiac conditions and stroke can occur. I would conclude that risk of diabetes from high blood pressure is low.
The combination of unreliable BMI and overinflated age risks makes this quiz a bit dodgy in my view. These type of ads also cause anxiety and unnecessary worry for older people. If you are worried about diabetes, don't rely on Westbury's quiz. Go and see your GP.
Dr Marie O'Sullivan
Health Advocate, and former lecturer, Public Health
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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58.9% Yes, supporting people is important!
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25.1% No, individuals should take responsibility
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16% ... It is complicated
A Neighbourly Riddle! Don’t Overthink It… Or Do?😜
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
If you multiply this number by any other number, the answer will always be the same. What number is this?
Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.7% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.1% I want to be able to choose.
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47.2% Against. I want to deal with people.
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