Urgent Call for National Task Force
Australia faces a significant obesity crisis, with approximately 6.5 million adults affected. The Public Health Association of Australia has called for immediate government action in response to the government’s 2024 parliamentary inquiry into diabetes.n
The government expressed ‘support in principle’ for nine recommendations from the inquiry but has yet to adopt specific proposals. Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes and now leads as the top cause of preventable disease burden in the country, surpassing tobacco.n
According to Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia, “The public health community was hoping for a Government response that committed to more direct action.”n
Potential Measures to Address Obesityn
A high-level obesity task force could explore various strategies, including limiting junk food marketing aimed at children, enhancing public health campaigns, and improving access to affordable healthy foods. Other measures may involve imposing a health levy on sugary drinks and promoting increased physical activity.n
Efforts are already underway, such as a feasibility study on restricting unhealthy food marketing to children and updates to the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Progress is being made towards mandating Health Star Ratings and addressing toddler formula marketing.n
Professor Slevin emphasised, “By driving down obesity, we can help Australians live longer and better lives, but standing in the way are junk food companies and their aggressive marketing, and lack of access to affordable healthy food and physical inactivity.”n
Further initiatives include developing a National Food Security Strategy and improving healthcare access through increased GP bulk billing and urgent care clinics. Price negotiations for new weight loss drugs for high-risk patients are also in progress.n
The government has noted 14 recommendations from the inquiry but has not adopted any proposals. Meanwhile, projections indicate that 2.2 million Australian children could be living with obesity by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive action.n
Adjunct Professor Slevin acknowledges that since the inquiry finished, both Health Minister Mark Butler and Assistant Health Minister Rebecca White have led efforts to help address obesity. “Some work is underway and is very welcome,” Slevin says. “A Government funded feasibility report on limiting unhealthy marketing to kids was published last week.”n
There is a National Food Security Strategy being developed by the Department of Agriculture’s National Food Council. Wider system efforts to improve access to health care through increased GP bulk billing and urgent care clinics all benefit people with diabetes. Work is underway to negotiate a price for access to new weight loss drugs.
