White Paper

 A tough problem calls for tough solutions

Overweight and chronic obesity is being labelled an epidemic among the biggest industrialised nations in the world. According to the World Health Organisation, obesity accounts for 5% of the global risk for mortality. In Australia, health experts, consumers, broadcasters and food manufacturers have in the last decade, shown interest in the pressing issues that research and recent legislation proposals have addressed.

While methods of treatment have been implemented in the past, government attention has shifted to methods of prevention. Research shows that along with excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption, obesity and its associated health risks are among the top 7 preventable risk factors that influence the burden of disease; obesity and tobacco consumption account for 7% of the burden alone. Indeed both health experts and policy makers agree that an integrated national strategy is needed to tackle the impending risks of obesity facing the nation today.

In May 2009, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing released an inquiry titled “Weighing it up: Obesity in Australia”. This report highlighted an increase in the percentage of adult obesity as well as the costs to public health and resources. It reports that the National Health Survey of 2007-2008 found that 68% of adult men and 55% of adult women were overweight or obese, while in 1995 only 64% of men and 49% of women were overweight or obese. The cost of obesity was also estimated in the report to be rising at $52.8 billion in 2008. This figure is inclusive of the cost to the public health system, productivity, carers and general loss of wellbeing. In addition, the inquiry outlined 20 recommendations by the committee, targeting prevention through social marketing and education, public funding for bariatric surgery, calling for changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule, the introduction of tax subsidies, the reformulation of food, regulation of advertising and improved labelling of food.

Following the release of these recommendations by the committee, the Federal Government introduced the Preventative Health Strategy in September 2009. The strategy addressed obesity, tobacco and alcohol consumption and chronic diseases associated with them. The Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon. Nicola Roxon said the strategy was aimed at prevention and policy in both health and non-health sectors. She said the strategy was needed to minimise the overload on health and hospital systems, without compromising productivity and competitiveness within the Australian workforce.

In light of these recommendations, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) have reviewed advertising standards and issued a ban on the use of popular characters and celebrities in marketing food and using toys as incentives. However, the ACMA suggested that more conclusive studies on the direct relationship between advertising and obesity is needed before further bans and restrictions are imposed.

Chief Executive of the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) Kate Carnell said the Council welcomed the challenges put forth by the Preventative Health Strategy. In January this year, the AFGC introduced the Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative. The initiative calls for 16 of the largest manufacturers in Australia to advertise only healthy options to children.

But amid debates over the regulation of advertisements, Professor Boyd Swinburne of Deakin University and Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, believes the government needs to take a “hard-line approach” akin to smoking and drink driving campaigns. Such approaches would include the enforcement of food quality policies (where children and family venues are junk food free) and adopting “traffic light” symbols on food packages. Professor Swinburne also agrees with the Preventative Health Strategy’s recommendation on advertising. He suggests that banning junk food advertisements on television is a cost-effective preventative measure against childhood obesity.

Since the release of the Federal Government’s Preventative Health Strategy, several bodies and groups around the nation have participated in debates over what can be done about the impending issue of overweight and obesity. While studies in the US and UK have shown far more effective results through prevention over treatment, the rising prevalence of obesity and associated diseases continues to tip the scales of our economy, public health system and productivity in the workforce. A response from the government to the Preventative Health Strategy report is expected early this year.