The nation’s health, well-being and productivity are being threatened by an epidemic of weight-related illness, a new report into obesity has found.
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Tipping the Scales, Australian Obesity Prevention Consensus, was released by the Obesity Policy Coalition this week.
The comprehensive report found the total annual cost of overweight and obesity in 2011–2012 was about $8.6 billion, representing $3.8 billion in direct costs and $4.8 billion in indirect costs.
While the report did not detail Tasmania’s position, data released in December by the Tasmania Primary Health Network recorded an estimate of 67.5 per cent of overweight and obese adults in 2014-2015.
The obesity coalition’s report identified components to include in a national obesity prevention strategy. Some of the Obesity Policy Coalition’s recommendations were:
- Restrictions on TV advertising of unhealthy food and drink until 9.30pm.
- A mandatory Health Star Rating System by July 2019
- Develop a travel strategy to promote walking, cycling and public transport
- Place a health levy on sugary drinks to increase the price by 20 per cent
Australian Medical Association Tasmania president Stuart Day backed the report.
“Obesity is a health condition like any other health issue and needs addressing/ treatment on an individual and societal basis,” he said.
“Clearly the increasing rates of obesity mean that what we have been doing has not been working and needs to change.
“The science of the last 50 years needs review and public policy needs a longer term view and constant monitoring for effectiveness.”
Most of the recommendations called for action from the federal government, but Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam said the government had programs in place to educate, support and encourage people to maintain a healthy diet and be active.
“The best prevention to obesity is for individuals to do what they can to improve their own health, by maintaining a healthy diet and staying active,” he said.
“I do not support a new tax on sugar to address obesity and the government doesn’t believe increasing the family grocery bill at the supermarket is the answer.
“You can’t tax or ban your way to good health.”
Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm slammed the proposal to extend the fast-food ad ban.
“We are now facing the farcical prospect of teenagers enjoying access to blood, guts, gore and sex on television while being denied the sight of a hamburger on the grounds it is too unseemly for young eyes,” he said.
