It is disappointing healthy eating programmes are ending at the end of this month, Southern District Health Board member Sandra Cook says.
Ms Cook was speaking at yesterday's community and public health meeting, in Dunedin.
On June 30, Ministry of Health funds for Healthy Eating Healthy Action (HEHA) programmes cease.
Health Minister Tony Ryall has previously signalled money would be redirected into maternal and newborn nutrition.
The health ministry was still considering how to focus the new programme, which was set to start in October, finance and funding general manager Robert Mackway-Jones said.
Funding would be contestable, rather than distributed through district health boards, he said.
Programmes operating under HEHA funding were being wound up, he said.
Ms Cook said, while the situation was outside the DHB's control, the move was a "bit of a disappointment" because she was aware of significant gains through the programme.
Approached for comment, Heart Foundation heart health advocate Joanne Arthur, of Dunedin, said losing the funding would have a big impact in the South.
"The HEHA funding was specifically allocated to public health initiatives aimed at preventing obesity, which is the No 1 public health issue in our lifetime.
"Unfortunately, the Government is much more focused on treatment than on prevention."
