If you live in New Zealand, McDonalds is offering you an incentive to eat at their restaurants: They'll give you fuel discounts that you can use at your local Mobil Station. Sound like a pretty good deal? Well, this 'good deal' is not going over well down under, particularly with the Obesity Action Coalition -- they feel this kind of promotion is encouraging unhealthy habits and ultimately obesity.

They have one major problem with this offer in particular: The deal is only available if you order a big mac, fries, soda and an apple pie. It's not available on salads or other healthy fare. This meal works out to a whopping 1347 calories and 64 g of fat, so let's be honest here -- whoever eats this should leave the car at home and do a bit --or a lot -- of walking.

Your thoughts?

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Children in one New Zealand school can celebrate their birthdays at school but they can't bring cakes to share with their classmates.

Oteha Valley primary school, north of Auckland, has banned birthday cakes as part of a larger fat crack-down by the area's Ministry of Education.

Here's why cakes are a problem: Oteha Valley has a large number of pupils born in September and October. As a result, there's the potential for up to four cakes to arrive per week in some classes. Parents were starting to believe they were required to provide a cake for their child's birthday. Since this was both untrue and unhealthy, the school has advised parents in a newsletter to stop sending cakes to school.

Not such a bad idea, I'd say. What do you say?

12 "healthy" foods that really aren't:

Why? Click to find out!

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For quite some time, many researchers and lay people alike have subscribed to what is known as the "Thrifty Genotype Theory." Basically, this theory suggests that cycles of feast and famine that occurred early in human history created a gene that assists the body in utilizing scarce nutrients.

Because we as humans no longer operate on a feast or famine eating cycle, however, this gene (which still remains) leads to obesity, so said the theory. In addition, this theory pointed to certain ethnic groups; Native Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, Australian Aborigine and other indigenous groups as being genetically prone to obesity and type 2 diabetes because of their link to this particular gene.

In efforts to challenge the ethnic presumptions, and erode the "Thrifty Genotype Theory" altogether, a 2007 study by U.S. and Australian researchers examined existing genetic studies published across a variety of disciplines. Whereas past studies into the genetic link to diabetes failed to control for outside variables, this new study factors in poverty, housing segregation and poor diet -- and, upon completion of the researchers' analysis, all were found to be stronger indicators of obesity and diabetes than genes.

Need a little inspiration this Monday morning? How about this: Two Australian men recently completed the first successful kayaking trip across the Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand. They left on November 13th and were at sea for 62 days and traveled over 2,000 miles. The first man to attempt this journey disappeared last February off the coast of New Zealand, just short of his target.

You don't need to kayak 2,000 miles to reach your goal. All you have to do is make sure that you get in that workout you have planned for today. Suddenly, it doesn't seem like such a monumental task, does it?

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My recent post on the so-called 'tubby tax' had you guys talking -- the majority of you are very opposed to the idea of paying more on a flight just because you're carrying a few extra pounds. But if you think that's bad listen to this: Rowan Trezise, a British woman, has been denied immigration to New Zealand because she's overweight and considered a burden on the health system.

What?!?

Her husband Richie was also told to slim down and he was able to shed two inches from his waist, which made him eligible to enter the country. But Ms. Trezise is stuck in the UK until she can get her BMI below 25 -- anything higher is considered overweight.

There are a few problems with this -- firstly, BMI is not considered an accurate measure of health by healthcare professionals. Secondly? It's outrageously discriminatory. What do you think?

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223 people were quarantined this weekend by New Zealand authorities inside an airplane due to one of the passengers displaying symptoms that prompted a bird flu scare.

The Korean airplane was later deemed as not at risk after the suspected bird flu-carrying passenger was found to have gastrointestinal problems instead of the H51N "bird flu" virus.

So, this is it. If symptoms like vomiting and other general symptoms are witnessed on a mass transit mode of transportation, the default thinking is bird flu? What do you think -- is that an appropriate response or not?

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Now here's a day I can celebrate: No diet day. It happens on May 7th (darn, I missed it) in a place called Timaru, New Zealand. The point of the day is to cease all dieting. That's not to say that you should head to the all-you-can-eat buffet and have a total pig-out, but rather for one day, don't spend any money , time or energy on the quest to be slim. People worldwide spend billions every year on diet products and yet we're still in the midst of an obesity crises. Dietitians in Timaru believe that diets are pointless, and rather people should invest in making healthy, long-term changes to their life. And you know what? I totally agree. I think every day should be no-diet day, but at the same time, we should make an effort to live our healthiest life every single day too.

What do you think?

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It may be a small world, but the world's population is quickly gaining weight. That's according to recent estimates by the World Health Organization, which recently ranked countries by percentage rates of obesity. While it may surprise you that the United States came in at the bottom of the top 10, (who else had us pegged at number one?), it's actually the influx of Western food and lifestyle that seems to be contributing to the widening waistbands in other countries.

Countries that are the hardest hit by this trend are in the South Pacific. As ties between the countries in this area and Westernized countries like the U.S. and New Zealand strengthen, the region sees more and more imports of processed foods heavy in fat in sugar. Urbanization is another culprit. People move away from their rural lifestyles, and away from the heavy labor and local food supply as well. These types of changes put countries like Nauru, with 94.5% of its adult population overweight, at the top of the list.

Experts warn that you really can't compare obesity rates country by country, but it's important to note that the trends are rising across the board. For a list of the "world's fattest countries," go here.

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