Kia ora
  
Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2023033845
  
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, Manatū Hauora will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. However, over the holiday period there
are 3 weeks that don’t count as ‘working days’. For Official Information
Act (OIA) requests, the holiday period is 25 December 2022 to 15 January
2023 (inclusive). This affects OIA requests received on or after 27
November 2022. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can use the
Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/  
  
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
on [2][email address]. If any additional factors come to light which
are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that
these can be taken into account. 

Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [3][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.

 
Ngā mihi
 
OIA Services Team
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[4]inistry of Health information releases 
 
 

------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: J Bruning <[FOI #25087 email]>;
Received: Fri Dec 08 2023 14:42:45 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>; OIA <[email address]>;
Subject: Official Information request - MoH Evidence Research and
Innovation Deputy Director-General – Is Dean Rutherford briefed/driving
policy on metabolic syndrome, mental health & ultraprocessed food &
nutritional deficiency

Dear Ministry of Health,

This request is specifically directed to Deputy Director-General – Is Dean
Rutherford , who is responsible for Evidence Research and Innovation and
staff within this directorate.

Please do not transfer this request to any other department or
Directorate. The Evidence, Research and Innovation (ERI) Directorate
promotes and provides high-quality analytics, research, evidence and
science advice to better inform strategy and decision-making, and drive
innovation within the NZ health system.

The ERI a promoted as a key enabler towards the realisation of pae ora –
healthy futures for New Zealanders. The role of the ERI Directorate is to
provide leadership in each of these areas across the system and to ensure
that the Ministry can best harness the collective knowledge of the various
disciplines based on the needs of the specific situation.

Therefore it would be presumed that this Directorate would be assessing
the local and global literature on the relationship of diet, specifically
ultraprocessed food and metabolic syndrome and mental illness.

As public servants your department is tasked with improving, promoting,
and protecting public health under the Health Act 1956.

Please supply:
1.      Budget for this team for the current and estimated next
(2024/2025) financial year.

2.       Income of the Deputy Director-General Strategy Policy and
Legislation, and numbers of team members and the incomes of the senior
leadership team.

3.      Terms of reference/expectations for this team and the name of the
head of department that established the terms of reference/expectations.

4.      Information held by or requested by this directorate including
research/memos/advice/emails relating to:

a.      The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in New Zealand, a cluster of
symptoms characterised by central obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and
insulin resistance.
b.      Current and predicted cost to the health system from metabolic
syndrome which presents as multimorbidity (i.e. cost of multimorbidity for
those diagnosed with metabolic syndrome).
c.      Metabolic syndrome and multimorbidity as a risk factor for viral
and bacteriological infections.
d.      Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for poor mental health.
e.      Socioeconomic status as a predictor for metabolic syndrome.
f.      Diet high in ultraprocessed food as a predictor for metabolic
syndrome.
g.      Population level data relating to nutrient deficiency (which may
include but is not limited to vitamins B,D,C and iron) by age and
socio-economic status.

6.      Information held by or requested by this directorate including
research/memos/advice/emails for long-term strategy, setting direction and
priority areas for investment which discusses ultraprocessed food and the
consequent health-related cost to New Zealand (including cost/benefits
based on life-stage: pregnancy/prenatal, infancy, childhood, youth,
adulthood, elderly).

a.      Cost/benefit of reducing ultraprocessed food consumption to
improve mental health and/or metabolic syndrome in terms of reduction of
years of healthy life lost due to disability (YLDs) and years lost due to
premature mortality (YLLs).
b.      Cost/benefit: Public education on healthy cooking food preparation
and cost/benefit for education by life-stage.
c.      Cost/benefit: Public education campaign: Diet quality/nutrition
status as a predictor for mental health risk; diabetes risk; and/or cancer
risk.
d.      Analyses/Reviews undertaken by this directorate:
(i)     Meta-analyses to identify effectiveness of nutrition as protective
for mental health.
(ii)    Countries that tax ultraprocessed food (UPF) and/or sugar
sweetened beverages; tax levels, food products targeted for taxation, year
established.
(iii)   White paper/scientific reviews on the effectiveness of UPF tax
policies.

Thank you

Yours faithfully,

J Bruning
 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

hide quoted sections

Kia ora

 

Thank you for your four requests under the Official Information Act
received by Mantū Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 8 December 2023.

 

We are contacting you to clarify the parts of your requests, copied below:

 

4.      Information held by or requested by this directorate including
research/memos/advice/emails relating to:
a.      The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in New Zealand, a cluster of
symptoms characterised by central obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and
insulin resistance.
b.      Current and predicted cost to the health system from metabolic
syndrome which presents as multimorbidity (i.e. cost of multimorbidity for
those diagnosed with metabolic syndrome).
c.      Metabolic syndrome and multimorbidity as a risk factor for viral
and bacteriological infections.
d.      Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for poor mental health.
e.      Socioeconomic status as a predictor for metabolic syndrome.
f.      Diet high in ultraprocessed food as a predictor for metabolic
syndrome.
g.     Population level data relating to nutrient deficiency (which may
include but is not limited to vitamins B,D,C and iron) by age and
socio-economic status.

5.      Public health knowledge and surveillance system - extent to which
this data is being monitored and aggregated:
a.      Average cost of metabolic syndrome by age, gender and
socioeconomic status.
b.      Identifying prevalence of diet-related gastrointestinal disorders
by age and gender.
c.      Identifying key nutrients people with diabetes, cancer and mental
illness are commonly deficient in.
d.      Identifying the proportion of the diet based on ultraprocessed
food by age and socioeconomic status.
e.      Reviewing success and cost of school lunch programme initiatives
throughout New Zealand.

 

For context, Manatū Hauora (the Ministry of Health) does not widely use
the metabolic syndrome classification.

Please clarify if you are seeking information specifically about metabolic
syndrome only or have a broader interest in obesity, diabetes,
hypertension etc?  

 

We are also contacting you in accordance with section 18B of the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) as your requests do not specify a timeframe
and as such require a search through a very large volume of information.

Your requests may be refused under section 18(f) of the Act as the
information requested cannot be made available without substantial
collation or research. Are you able to specify the timeframe you are
interested in?

 

Please note, under section 15 of the Official Information Act 1982, any
clarification or amendments made to a request within seven days after the
date it is received, that request may be treated as a new request and the
time limit for the response restarts.  

We look forward to receiving your response. 

 

Ngā mihi

 

OIA Services

Government and Executive Services | Te Pou Whakatere Kāwanatanga

Manatū Hauora

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

hide quoted sections

Kia ora 

The conditions referred to are considered either on their own or as part
of a broader cardiovascular disease risk calculation. Cardiovascular risk
is calculated based on multiple risk factors, set out in the following
guidance [1]Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment and Management for
Primary Care | Ministry of Health NZ) 

If you are able to clarify the information you are interested in and
refine the scope of your request, the Ministry may be able to provide you
with information you are interested in. 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[2]inistry of Health information releases 
U[3]nite against COVID-19 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: J Bruning <[FOI #25087 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 16 December 2023 10:32
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Clarification and refinement of your requests for information
H2023033842 CRM:0001027 H2023033845 CRM:0001028 H2023033846 CRM:0001029
H2023033847 CRM:0001030
 
Dear Ministry of Health OIA Services,

How do you classify, or what term do you use to classify the cluster of
symptoms characterised by central obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and
insulin resistance?

Yours sincerely,

J Bruning

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora

  

 Thank you for your four requests under the Official Information Act
 received by Mantū Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 8 December 2023.

  

 We are contacting you to clarify the parts of your requests, copied
below:

  

 4.      Information held by or requested by this directorate including
 research/memos/advice/emails relating to:
 a.      The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in New Zealand, a cluster of
 symptoms characterised by central obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension
and
 insulin resistance.
 b.      Current and predicted cost to the health system from metabolic
 syndrome which presents as multimorbidity (i.e. cost of multimorbidity
for
 those diagnosed with metabolic syndrome).
 c.      Metabolic syndrome and multimorbidity as a risk factor for viral
 and bacteriological infections.
 d.      Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for poor mental health.
 e.      Socioeconomic status as a predictor for metabolic syndrome.
 f.      Diet high in ultraprocessed food as a predictor for metabolic
 syndrome.
 g.     Population level data relating to nutrient deficiency (which may
 include but is not limited to vitamins B,D,C and iron) by age and
 socio-economic status.

 5.      Public health knowledge and surveillance system - extent to which
 this data is being monitored and aggregated:
 a.      Average cost of metabolic syndrome by age, gender and
 socioeconomic status.
 b.      Identifying prevalence of diet-related gastrointestinal disorders
 by age and gender.
 c.      Identifying key nutrients people with diabetes, cancer and mental
 illness are commonly deficient in.
 d.      Identifying the proportion of the diet based on ultraprocessed
 food by age and socioeconomic status.
 e.      Reviewing success and cost of school lunch programme initiatives
 throughout New Zealand.

  

 For context, Manatū Hauora (the Ministry of Health) does not widely use
 the metabolic syndrome classification.

 Please clarify if you are seeking information specifically
about metabolic
 syndrome only or have a broader interest in obesity, diabetes,
 hypertension etc?  

  

 We are also contacting you in accordance with section 18B of the Official
 Information Act 1982 (the Act) as your requests do not specify a
timeframe
 and as such require a search through a very large volume of information.

 Your requests may be refused under section 18(f) of the Act as the
 information requested cannot be made available without substantial
 collation or research. Are you able to specify the timeframe you are
 interested in?

  

 Please note, under section 15 of the Official Information Act 1982, any
 clarification or amendments made to a request within seven days after the
 date it is received, that request may be treated as a new request and the
 time limit for the response restarts.  

 We look forward to receiving your response. 

  

 Ngā mihi

  

 OIA Services

 Government and Executive Services | Te Pou Whakatere Kāwanatanga

 Manatū Hauora

  

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #25087 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[4]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/c...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. https://covid19.govt.nz/
4. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora
Thank you for providing a clarified request.
On 14 December 2023 we contacted you in accordance with section 18B of the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) as your four requests do not
specify a timeframe and as such require a search through a very large
volume of information.
Your requests may be refused under section 18(f) of the Act as the
information requested cannot be made available without substantial
collation or research. Are you able to specify the timeframe you
are interested in?

Ngâ mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: J Bruning <[FOI #25087 email]>
Sent: Friday, 22 December 2023 16:37
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Clarification and refinement of your requests for information
H2023033842 CRM:0001027 H2023033845 CRM:0001028 H2023033846 CRM:0001029
H2023033847 CRM:0001030
 
Dear OIA Services team,

Please see amended questions following your note stating that 'Manatû
Hauora (the Ministry of Health) does not widely use the metabolic syndrome
classification' and your advice that 'The conditions referred to are
considered either on their own or as part of a broader cardiovascular
disease risk calculation.'

I have amended my request as follows which is specifically directed to MoH
Evidence Research and Innovation Deputy Director-General – Is Dean
Rutherford and his directorate team.

Many medically trained doctors and many nutritional experts are interested
in the outcome of these questions. We suspect that much of this
information may be refused as the information is not held by Dean
Rutherford or his staff. 

We are also aware that Dean Rutherford and his staff will comprise a
department that is not extensive. Thus these questions do not involve
searches through the entire Ministry of Health.

Therefore, the search may not be as onerous as anticipated.

4. Information held by or requested by this directorate including
research/memos/advice/emails relating to:
a. Metabolic syndrome is recognised by the World Health Organization. Any
reports and white papers held which reference metabolic syndrome (a
cluster of symptoms characterised by central obesity, dyslipidaemia,
hypertension and insulin resistance).

b. Current and predicted cost to the health system from multimorbidity
(i.e. cost of multimorbidity) for those diagnosed with Cardiovascular
Disease or at risk for Cardiovascular Disease.

c. Diabetes status as a risk factor for viral and bacteriological
infections.

d. Diet/nutrition status as a risk factor for poor mental health.

e. Socioeconomic status as a predictor for cardiovascular disease.

f. Diet high in ultraprocessed food as a predictor for cardiovascular
disease.

g. Population level data relating to nutrient deficiency (which may
include but is not limited to vitamins B,D,C and iron) by age and
socio-economic status.

6. Information held by or requested by this directorate including
research/memos/advice/emails for long-term strategy, setting direction and
priority areas for investment which discusses ultraprocessed food and the
consequent health-related cost to New Zealand (including cost/benefits
based on life-stage: pregnancy/prenatal, infancy, childhood, youth,
adulthood, elderly).

a. Cost/benefit of reducing ultraprocessed food consumption to improve
mental health and/or metabolic syndrome in terms of reduction of years of
healthy life lost due to disability (YLDs) and years lost due to premature
mortality (YLLs).

b. Cost/benefit: Public education on healthy cooking food preparation and
cost/benefit for education by life-stage.

c. Cost/benefit: Public education campaign: Diet quality/nutrition status
as a predictor for mental health risk; diabetes risk; and/or cancer risk.

d. Analyses/Reviews undertaken by this directorate:
(i) Meta-analyses to identify effectiveness of nutrition as protective for
mental health.
(ii) Countries that tax ultraprocessed food (UPF) and/or sugar sweetened
beverages; tax levels, food products targeted for taxation, year
established.
(iii) White paper/scientific reviews on the effectiveness of UPF tax
policies.

We emphasise the information requested concerns matters of great
importance for policy formulation. References to the relationship between
ultraprocessed food and non-communicable disease and mental illness are
surging in the scholarly literature, and it would be surprising if this
was not a focus of the evidence, research and innovation Directorate.
Therefore it is in the public interest that this information is disclosed.

Thank you

Yours faithfully,

J Bruning

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora 

 The conditions referred to are considered either on their own or as part
 of a broader cardiovascular disease risk calculation. Cardiovascular risk
 is calculated based on multiple risk factors, set out in the following
 guidance [1]Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment and Management for
 Primary Care | Ministry of Health NZ) 

 If you are able to clarify the information you are interested in and
 refine the scope of your request, the Ministry may be able to provide you
 with information you are interested in. 

 Ngâ mihi 

   

 OIA Services Team

 Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health

 M[2]inistry of Health information releases 
 U[3]nite against COVID-19 

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 From: J Bruning <[FOI #25087 email]>
 Sent: Saturday, 16 December 2023 10:32
 To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
 Subject: Re: Clarification and refinement of your requests for
information
 H2023033842 CRM:0001027 H2023033845 CRM:0001028 H2023033846 CRM:0001029
 H2023033847 CRM:0001030
  
 Dear Ministry of Health OIA Services,

 How do you classify, or what term do you use to classify the cluster of
 symptoms characterised by central obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension
and
 insulin resistance?

 Yours sincerely,

 J Bruning

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #25087 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/
3. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora

 

Please find attached a letter regarding your request for information

 

Ngā mihi 

  

 

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections