Fitbit continues to build and maintain relationship in the health and fitness space. One of the maintained 5 year relationships has been announced.
Fitbit and Diabetes New Zealand today announced an extension to their multi-year partnership. As a key partner to Diabetes NZ, Fitbit will continue to work with the organisation to drive awareness among Kiwis of how healthy lifestyle habits can help play a critical role in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and the management of all types of diabetes. In New Zealand, close to five percent of the population has been diagnosed with diabetes. This is predominantly type 2 diabetes according to the 2020 Social and Economic Cost of Type 2 Diabetes Report.
According to the report, Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in young people and is related to obesity. Predictions suggest people with type 2 diabetes in New Zealand will increase by 70-90 percent within 20 years. This is unless urgent action is taken. This suggests that a focus on prevention is needed to manage New Zealand’s fastest growing health crisis. Outside of the global pandemic of course.
An achievement of longstanding partnership is the annual Fitbit MoveMeant Challenge. The marquee event has seen influential Kiwis step up to the challenge, by participating in two weeks of healthy competition aiming to achieve the highest step count, all to raise awareness and funds for Diabetes NZ. Over the past five years the challenge has raised upwards of NZ$263,000 for the cause. Building on the success of previous years, the next Fitbit MoveMeant Challenge will kick off in March 2022.
The last MoveMeant Challenge in March 2020 saw participants enter a Level 4 lockdown on Day 1 of the challenge. Several high-profile participants kept up their steps taking part in socially distanced daily walks. These included household names such as Adam Blair, Erin Simpson and the late Sir Eion Edgar. They did this to raise awareness for the Diabetes cause.
Heather Verry, Chief Executive at Diabetes NZ, said, “We know a person’s risk of progressing from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes can be roughly halved if they exercised more and take steps toward leading a healthy lifestyle, and that these changes can also help with the management of diabetes. Wearable brands, like Fitbit, can play an important role to actively encourage Kiwis to make that change.”
Steve Morley, Director of Fitbit Health Solutions International and APAC for Fitbit at Google, said, “While the pandemic has clearly been top of mind for many of us, diabetes remains one of the most significant health issues that Asia and New Zealand face today, with an estimated 227 million people living with type II diabetes, half of which go undiagnosed. Wearables can help promote the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, which in turn can have a positive effect on the prevention and management of type II diabetes.”
To find out more about the partnership, or to understand your risk of type 2 diabetes, visit https://www.diabetes.org.nz/.