This World Obesity Day, Food for Health Alliance is urging the Australian Government to prioritise the funding and implementation of the National Obesity Strategy.
This strategy was launched on this day by the Federal Government in 2022, but three years on little progress on its recommendations has been made.
Overweight and obesity
recently overtook tobacco smoking as the leading risk factor contributing to the disease burden in Australia at 8.3% of the total disease burden, while 4.8% was attributed to dietary risks. This compares to 7.6% for tobacco use (excluding vaping).
Executive Manager of Food for Health Alliance, Jane Martin, says that implementing the National Obesity Strategy is an important opportunity for government to improve Australians’ diets and prevent serious chronic disease.
“We need to create environments that make it easy for people to eat healthily. But instead, Australians are surrounded by heavily promoted, ultra processed foods and sugary drinks that undermine good health – and raise our risk of chronic illness.”
“The National Obesity Strategy provides a clear roadmap for government to improve Australia’s food environment, so that everyone can enjoy good health. Yet it’s been 3 years since the strategy was introduced, without essential actions and the required funding from government.”
“We’re lagging behind and at this rate it is unlikely that critical targets set under the Strategy will be met, including reducing childhood obesity by 2030,” Ms. Martin asserted.
“With overweight and obesity linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, 13 cancers, and other serious diseases, this policy inaction not only has implications for people’s wellbeing, but for the ongoing sustainability of our health system,” she added.
As top priorities this World Obesity Day, Food for Health Alliance is urging the Australian Government to:
• Limit unhealthy food and drink marketing, especially to children
• Improve how all baby and toddler foods are made and marketed
• Mandate the Health Star Rating system on all packaged supermarket foods.
While the Food for Health Alliance acknowledges that governments have taken some positive steps towards progress in these areas recently, much more is needed to support the health of the population and to take pressure off our health system.
“Taking a comprehensive approach to improve diets and weight is essential. Australia is regarded as a world-leader in tobacco control. And now is the time for bold government action in a similar vein, with controls on labelling, marketing and pricing to protect the health of future generations,” Ms. Martin concluded.
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