With more than two in three adults and one in four children in Western Australia above a healthy weight, a new initiative has been unveiled to help people living with obesity.
In a partnership backed by the Department of Health and launched on World Obesity Day (4 March), the Weight Education and Lifestyle Leadership (WELL) Collaborative is part of the WA Healthy Weight Action Plan 2019-2024.
Director of Health Networks at Health, Megan Burley said education and communication would come to the fore of obesity management, with the WELL Collaborative to address the complex social and health issues that impacted overweight and obesity.
Ms Burley said the Collaborative had been established to change the way people considered, talked about and managed overweight and obesity in Western Australia.
She said obesity was the second leading contributor to death and disease in the State, after tobacco.
“Factors leading to obesity are complex, including genetics and social determinants such as food security, health literacy, cultural factors and the obesogenic environment we live in,” Ms Burley said.
She said the Collaborative was supported by a website for health practitioners and consumers to find the information they needed for managing overweight and obesity.
“Resources are scientifically sound, consumer-informed and include evidence-based guidelines, directories for health professionals, as well as training opportunities,” she said.
Ms Burley said the online platform was a collaboration between WA Health, WA Primary Health Alliance and the Health Consumers’ Council and was developed in partnership with more than 100 stakeholders from over 40 organisations, including consumers.
The WELL Collaborative website can be accessed at this PS News link and the 52-page WA Healthy Weight Action Plan 2019-2024 at this link.
