Weighing it up - Obesity in Australia

On 2 June 2009 – the House of Reps Standing Committee on Health and Ageing ("Committee") released its report on the inquiry into obesity in Australia, called Weighing it up: Obesity in Australia.

In brief, the report calls for:

•    economic modelling (Return On YELP Capex Software) in order to establish the cost implications of Obesity and the cost-benefits of various interventions - YELP is an intervention (YELP is an intervention)

•    regular and ongoing surveillance and monitoring of Australians’ weight, diet and physical activity levels, and that the data gathered is used to formulate, develop and evaluate long-term policy responses (Array Of Reports For The YELP Pilot & Primary Research Programme)

•    national, territory and state governments to work through the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council to develop and implement long- term, effective, well-targeted social marketing and education campaigns about obesity and healthy lifestyles, and ensure that these marketing campaigns are made more successful by linking them to broader policy responses to obesity

•    the Committee recommends that the Minister for Health and Ageing continue to support the Federal Government’s Active After-school Communities program and consider ways to expand the program to more sites across Australia

•    public funding for bariatric lap band surgery, including multi-disciplinary support teams, for those patients that meet appropriate clinical guidelines.

•    develop a national register of bariatric surgery including data on the number of patients, the success of surgery and any possible complications

•    Obesity should be put on the Medicare Benefits Schedule as a chronic disease requiring an individual management plan

•    explore ways that GPs collate data on the height and weight of their patients, and the data be utilised to generate statistics on the level of obesity in Australia

•    Australian Health Ministers' Conference consider adopting a tiered model of health care for Obesity management, incorporating prevention, community-based Primary Care and acute care

•   Treasurer and the Minister for Health and Ageing should investigate the use of tax incentives to improve the affordability of fresh, healthy food and access to physical activity programs for all Australians, particularly those living in rural and remote areas

•    Minister for Health and Ageing commission research into the effect of the advertising of food products with limited nutritional value on the eating behaviour of children and other vulnerable groups

•    Federal Government use the results of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand food labelling review to create a set of standard guidelines to ensure that food labels provide consistent nutritional information. Using these guidelines the Federal Government should work with industry to develop and implement this standardised food label within a reasonable timeframe.

•   Committee recommends that the Federal Government work with all levels of government and the private sector to develop nationally consistent urban planning guidelines which focus on creating environments that encourage Australians to be healthy and active (YELP  SPV is a PPP)

•    Minister for Health and Ageing fund research into the causes of Obesity (Negligent Lifestyle Behaviour) and the success or otherwise of interventions to reduce overweight and Obesity

•    Minister for Health and Ageing adopt a phased approach regarding regulations on the reformulation of food products.  Industry should be encouraged to make changes through self-regulation but if industry fails to make concrete changes within a reasonable timeframe the Federal Government should consider regulations (YELP is an intervention)

•    Minister for Health and Ageing engage with peak bodies such as the Australian Food and Grocery Council, the Dieticians Association of Australia, and the Heart Foundation, to develop and implement a Healthy Food Code of Good Practice tailored to Australian conditions.

•    Minister for Health and Ageing review the adequacy of regulations governing weight loss products and programs with the intention of ensuring that they can only be sold and promoted if nutritionally sound and efficacious.  The review should also examine ways to improve industry compliance with the Weight Management Council of Australia’s Weight Management Code of Practice

•   Minister for Health and Ageing encourage private and public employers to adopt programs and incentives that will promote active and healthy lifestyle choices by all Australians within the workplace (YELP  SPV  PPP comprises Four Public Sector Equity Holders and 12 Private Sector Equity Holders who employ hundreds of thousands of Australians)

•   Committee recommends that the Federal Government continue to support initiatives such as community garden projects, cooking classes and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

•   Committee recommends that the Minister for Health and Ageing explore ways to enhance the How do you measure up? campaign website and further develop it as a central repository of information about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise.

Concluding remarks

Sourced from Croakey