The Government is more interested in Prince Charles' visit than in finding ways to combat the "major epidemic" of diabetes, nutrition and diabetes expert Prof Jim Mann says.

Newborns and unborn babies in later pregnancy have been dying in South Auckland at a higher rate than the national average for most of the past decade.

A new study, published in Diabetes Care, has shown sleep may reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in obese teens.

New Zealand's obesity rate surged ahead in the 12 years to 2009, a major nutrition report released today by the Ministry of Health shows.

Scientists blame the increase on the spread of a Western-style diet, leading to rising levels of obesity.