In an Australian first, the Department of Health has launched a national strategy to combat expanding waistlines and obesity across the country.
Announced by Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, the Department’s National Obesity Strategy 2022–2032 will guide State and Federal Government actions to change factors that promote unhealthy weight gain and support people living with overweight and obesity.
Mr Hunt said the Strategy had two ambitious goals: To halt the rise and reverse the trend in the prevalence of obesity in adults; and To reduce overweight and obesity in children and adolescents by at least five per cent by 2030.
“Obesity is a complex health condition,” Mr Hunt aid.
“It is influenced by social, environmental and economic factors which can impact a person’s ability to maintain a healthy weight and, in turn, increase the risk of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
“The Strategy recognises the importance of ensuring all Australians are empowered, enabled and supported to make the best possible decisions about their health.”
Mr Hunt said the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ National Health Survey from 2017–18 found that 67 per cent of Australian adults were overweight or obese (12.5 million people), an increase from 63.4 per cent in 2014-15.
He said that if the current trend continued, more than 18 million Australians would be overweight or obese by 2030.
In its Strategy, the Department said that without action the country was facing a future with more weight-related chronic diseases and early deaths as well as greater vulnerability to infectious diseases and significant costs to health care, economic development and community wellbeing.
“The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shown that people with obesity or chronic diseases get sicker and are more likely to die from infectious diseases,” the Department said.
“There is also evidence that COVID-19 continues to influence Australians’ eating and sedentary behaviour patterns,” it said.
Mr Hunt said the Strategy had a multi-faceted, community-wide approach, “working with a range of initiatives, sectors and organisations”.
“Our primary focus is on prevention and the factors which contribute to this major health issue,” he said.
“It will also support the 14 million Australians living with being overweight or obesity, to live a healthier life.”
The Department’s 87-page National Obesity Strategy can be accessed at this PS News link.
