Prevention and Management of Overweight and Obesity in Australia Policy

This policy aims to prevent and manage overweight and obesity in Australia through various interventions and strategies. It addresses the high prevalence of obesity in the country, the economic and social costs associated with it, and the lack of a comprehensive national obesity plan. The policy suggests measures such as creating a National Obesity Task Force, regulating unhealthy food advertisements, increasing taxes on sugary drinks, and promoting physical activity and healthy eating guidelines.

Running head: HEALTHCARE POLICY 1
Healthcare Policy
Students Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Introduction
Obesity is a global health concern and occurs when one has excess weight or body fat
that might have adverse effects on their health. The prevention and management of overweight
and obesity in Australia policy has failed to achieve its objectives and goals, which is clear from
the increase in the prevalence rate of obesity. In Australia, the prevalence of Obesity has
increased in recent years, making it a significant public health issue in the country. The financial
costs of obesity are very high in Australia. For instance, in 2011-2012, obesity cost the economy
an estimated 8.6 billion dollars (Prevention and Management of Overweight and Obesity in
Australia Policy, n.d.). In 2017-2018, 67% of the adults were obese, representing two-thirds of
the total population. This shows a rise from 63.4% in 2012-2015. There has been an increase in
the prevalence of obesity and overweight 57% in 1995 to 67% in 2017. Research indicates that
the prevalence of severe obesity has doubled from 5% to 9% during this period. In 2014-2015,
the prevalence of overweight and obesity among men and women was 71% and 56%
respectively (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2017).
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2017) states that in 2017 to 2018, the percentage of obese
or overweight children aged 5-17 years was 24.9%, which represents one-quarter of the total
population. In 2014-2015, 11% of the children aged 2-4 were overweight, while 9% were obese.
This shows that 1 in 5 of the children was either overweight or obese. 20% of the adolescents
and children aged 5-17 were overweight, while 7% were obese. This indicates that 1 in 4 of the
adolescents and children aged 5-17 are either obese or overweight, which is a high number
(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2017). The most affected populations are the Aboriginal people
and those from low socio-economic status backgrounds due to the lack of access to quality foods
and lack of physical activity. This is attributed to the fact that they lack sufficient funds to

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purchase healthy foods, and hence they end up taking unhealthy foods such a those with high fat
and sugar levels (Australian National Preventative Health Agency, 2011).
The reason I have chosen the prevention and management of overweight and obesity in
Australia policy is that I have been concerned with the increase in the obesity cases and the
adverse effects it has had on the Australian people. I have chosen the policy as it has an excellent
plan that if well implemented, can lead to reduced prevalence of Obesity. The policy document
has indicated the various interventions that can help reduce the rate of obesity. The Policy
statement includes the fact that the global increase in the levels of obesity has a significant effect
on the health population. Secondly, the policy statement states that the prevalence rate of obesity
in Australia is very high, especially among the people from low socio-economic backgrounds
and the Aboriginal and Torres Islander people. Also, it indicates that 5 in 2011, .5% of the
disease and Injury burden in Australia was attributed to obesity and overweight (Policy Position
Statements, n.d.).
Thirdly, the policy document indicates that the economic and social costs of obesity are
extremely high and that without appropriate interventions, the costs would reach 87.7 billion by
2025. Also, the policy statement indicates that about 80% of obese or overweight children risk
becoming overweight or obese adults. Fourthly, the policy document suggests that lack of
physical activity and unhealthy diets are the leading causes of obesity, and hence, these should
be primary areas of focus to help reduce obesity. Lastly, the policy statement explains that
Australia lacks a comprehensive ongoing national obesity plan and that the current initiatives by
the commonwealth, territory and state governments are not sufficient to help reduce the obesity
rates (Prevention and Management of Overweight and Obesity in Australia Policy, n.d.).

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In the prevention and management of overweight and obesity in Australia policy, there is
the suggestion that the Commonwealth, state and territory government should declare obesity
and overweight as a national priority. Secondly, there is a suggestion that they should create a
National Obesity Task Force to help ensure proper coordination in the prevention and
management of obesity. Also, they should secure adequate funding to help establish an active,
healthy weight plain (Prevention and Management of Overweight and Obesity in Australia
Policy, n.d.). Lastly, they should ensure that there is a coordinated engagement among the
relevant stakeholders such as Non-governmental organisations, food manufacturers and the
advertising agencies (Commonwealth of Australia, 2014).
In the policy document, the government is encouraged to regulate the advertisement of
unhealthy foods and increase the tax on unhealthy foods such as sugary drinks. Secondly, the
government should ensure that food labelling is mandatory on all packaged foods. Thirdly, the
government should support and establish physical activity and healthy eating guidelines in places
such as schools, health services and workplaces. Lastly, the government should ensure that
develops a transport strategy that encourages the use of other means of transport that can help
reduce obesity such as walking and cycling (Prevention and Management of Overweight and
Obesity in Australia Policy, n.d.).
In the policy document, the Public health association of Australia aims at monitoring the
progress of the implementation of the recommendations. It also aims at working with relevant
organisations to help ensure the prevention of obesity and overweight. It also aims at
contributing to advisory and public forums that deal with promoting healthy weight among the
people. The Association aims at ensuring that its members are well informed about the policy
and that they support it. It also aims at ensuring that it monitors the implementation of the

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strategies mentioned and adequately reporting to the members (Prevention and Management of
Overweight and Obesity in Australia Policy, n.d).
Policy Analysis
Formulation of the problem
The increase in the prevalence of obesity among the children, youths and adults in
Australia shows that the policy is not achieving its goal. The fact that obesity accounts for
mortality and morbidity from diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases also
shows that the policy has not been effective enough. The main factors that prevent the policy
from achieving its objective include the political, economic and social factors (Swinburn, 2016).
The economic factors include the fact that food industries are keen on maximising on their
profits as opposed to being concerned with the increase in obesity cases. The food industry aims
at increasing its profits through promoting frequent snacking, encouraging the use of larger
portions and increasing the use of snacks, soft drinks, fast food and sweets (Are the food industry
responsible for the obesity epidemic, 2018).
Other economic factors that affect the function of the policy include lack of enough
income to implement essential strategies such as the creation of an environment that enhances
physical activity. There is also a lack of enough income to improve the production of healthier
foods. The political factors that affect the functions of the policy include lack of political
goodwill to increase funding to help in the implementation of essential strategies that can help
reduce obesity (The Politics Of Obesity: Seven Steps To Government Action, n.d.). There is
also a lack of political goodwill in increasing the tax on sugar and sugary drinks and encouraging
the use of other methods of transport such as cycling and walking. Also, there has been lack of
political goodwill in establishing and adopting the physical activity and healthy eating guidelines

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in places such as schools, health services and workplaces (The Politics Of Obesity: Seven Steps
To Government Action, n.d.). The social factors that affect the functions of the policy include
environmental and individual factors. For instance, the increase in the number of fast foods in
Australia due to the lack of adequate regulations make it difficult for people to reduce their
calorie intake (Food and Diet, 2016).
Lack of cooperation between the relevant stakeholders is also responsible for preventing
the policy from attaining its objective. For instance, the food industry has failed in helping
consumers to making healthy food choices. Instead, they have opted not to give clear, honest and
consistent product claims and information on their products and the health effects that they may
cause. The food industry also lacks the commitment to promote nutrition education at the
consumer level. The food industry has also failed in creating new food productions that satisfy an
individual's nutritional needs. They have also failed to provide smaller and healthier food
positions (Food industry's role in fighting obesity, n.d.).
The government, which is a major stakeholder, has failed in ensuring that there is an
increase in tax in sugary drinks. It has also failed to ensure that there are sufficient education
campaigns that can help enhance the knowledge of obesity and the risks associated with it. In
addition, the government has failed to effectively regulate the labelling and advertisement of
food that can increase obesity cases. The government has also failed to provide adequate funds
that can help implement the strategies that can help prevent obesity (Prevention and Management
of Overweight and Obesity in Australia Policy, n.d). The government has failed to create a
National Obesity Task Force that can help ensure proper prevention and management of obesity,
as indicated in the policy. The local government has also failed to work adequately with
industries, such as the food industry. As a result, the food industry has been unable to ensure

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proper food labelling and portion control while the media still advertises on the food products
that increase obesity even after 9 pm (Lvovich, n.d.).
Critical discussion and analysis
Objectives and goals
What needs to be achieved is that there should be adequate income to help in the
implementation of the various aspects of the policy. These various aspects include creating a
healthy environment that can help enhance physical activity. There should also be enough
income to help ensure that there is an increase in the production of healthy foods with a decrease
in prices. The food industries should be encouraged to reduce the focus on their profits and
increase focus on providing food that is healthy (Morley, Martin, Niven, & Wakefield, 2012).
The second most important objective is encouraging the political sector to adopt
measures and incentives that can help reduce obesity, as indicated in the policy. The political
sector should prioritise actions such as increasing taxes on sugar and sugary drinks (Regulations
and Taxes to prevent obesity, n.d.). It should also ensure that there are increased funding and the
implementation of crucial strategies that can reduce obesity, as indicated in the policy document.
The third most important objective is assessing and improving the environmental and individual
factors that affect obesity (Lee, Baker, Stanton, Friel, O’Dea, Weightman, 2016).
The best practice includes offering health education on the importance of healthy eating
and physical activities and the consequences of obesity. This is because health education helps
ensure that people are aware of the types of food they should consume to fight obesity. It also
helps them aware of how to engage in healthy eating. For instance, it helps people avoid eating
fast foods or processed foods that have a high level of fat. Secondly, health education encourages
people to eat vegetables, fruits and unrefined carbohydrates that include brown rice and

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wholemeal bread. Thirdly, health education helps people avoid consuming too much alcohol as it
has high levels of calories and hence making one obese or overweight. In addition, health
education helps individuals avoid eating larger portions of food. Lastly, it also makes people
aware of the adverse consequences of obesity such as heart disease and cancer and hence making
them change their unhealthy habits (Zhang, Liu, Liu, Xue & Wang, 2014).
The expert opinions point out to obesity as the leading causes of many diseases such as
hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The cancer institute indicates that excess body
weight and obesity increase the risk of certain types of cancers such as breast, liver, oesophagal,
pancreatic, uterine and colorectal cancers. Obesity also has adverse health outcomes on cancer
patients, especially those with colon, breast, prostate and liver cancers. Obesity is also the cause
of one in five cancer-related deaths (National Cancer Institute, n.d.).
According to the World Health Organization (2013), reducing poverty and creating safe
and healthy environments as the main ways of reducing obesity. Poverty is one of the leading
causes of obesity globally. In Australia, obesity is more prevalent among people from low socio-
economic status background and the Aboriginal people. Individuals with higher socio-economic
status have low rates of obesity. This is attributed to the fact that they have enough income to
purchase healthy nutritious foods while the people from low socio-economic status lack income
to buy healthy foods. As a result, they tend to buy high filling foods and foods with high fat and
sugar level (Kuntz & Lampert, 2017).
The fact that the people from lower socio-economic status backgrounds lack income
explains that they are driven by hunger to buy the high filling food as opposed to focusing on the
health benefits. Healthy foods tend to be more expensive than unhealthy foods. The people from
low-income backgrounds tend to buy these foods as they lack alternatives (How Obesity Relates

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to Socioeconomic Status, n.d.). The expert’s opinions also point out to the fact that low income
makes it difficult for the people to access gym facilities where they can engage in physical
activities (Safe, Affordable, and Accessible Physical Activity, 2016). They also live in
overcrowded areas and hence lacking adequate spaces to perform physical activities. This
explains the increase in obesity among the population as they consume unhealthy and fatty foods
while engaging in little or no physical activities. The people with high income, on the other hand,
have enough income to access the physical activities facilities. Therefore, reducing poverty will
help ensure that there is improved access to healthier foods and physical activity facilities and
environment (Strategies to Prevent Obesity | Overweight & Obesity | CDC, n.d.).
According to the Centre for Disease Control, poverty is associated with poor education,
which can be attributed to obesity. Research indicates that there is a strong association with the
level of education and the health of a person. High level of educations is associated with an
increase in knowledge on the causes of diseases and conditions and how to avoid them as well as
the importance of making well-informed health decisions (Strategies to Prevent Obesity |
Overweight & Obesity | CDC, n.d.). This explains why educated people purchase healthy foods
and engage in physical activities resulting in decreased cases of obesity. The less educated
people consume unhealthy foods with no physical activities because they lack knowledge about
the effects of obesity. The expert’s opinion on creating a safe and healthy environment entails,
ensuring that people have improved access to healthy foods by encouraging more people to
engage in farming (Rutten et al., 2012). It also entails, ensuring that there is an increased number
of gyms and facilities that improve physical activities (Safe, Affordable, and Accessible Physical
Activity, 2016).

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The lobby groups include the obesity policy coalition, which is interested in prioritising
and analyse on the policy strategies that can have a great impact in decreasing the prevalence of
obesity, especially in children. They are also interested in performing research that can help issue
an evidence base for the creation of policy proposals. In addition, they are interested in ensuring
that all the levels of government support and utilize the evidence-based policy strategies to help
fight the obesity epidemic (Obesity Policy Coalition, n.d). They are also interested in providing
leadership to guide policy professionals and researchers dealing with obesity and overweight
issues in Australia. The group also has a regulatory and legal focus where it aims at pushing for
the enforcement on the laws that can prevent obesity. It aims at achieving this through
encouraging the regulatory agencies such to enforce stern actions against unhealthy food
marketing practices. It also aims at advocating for reforms on laws such as advertisement, food
labelling and taxation of unhealthy foods to help reduce obesity (Obesity Policy Coalition, n.d.).
Another lobby group is Obesity Australia that helps change the people’s perception of
specific aspects of obesity, such as its prevention and treatment. Secondly, it aims at ensuring
that the people recognise the social, personal and economic effects of obesity. Thirdly, it seeks to
evaluate the incentives that work or do not work in Australia. Also, it also provides leadership
and advice for the policymakers. Lastly, it helps change the attitudes people have on obesity as
well as explaining how and why obesity occurs to ensure a positive response from the people and
adequate government funding (Obesity Australia, n.d.).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the prevention and management of overweight and obesity in Australia
policy is formed on the fact that there are increased cases of Obesity globally and especially in
Australia. The policy outlines that the prevalence of obesity in Australia is among the highest,

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globally. The high rates of obesity are associated with increased morbidity and mortality cases as
well as economic losses (Prevention and Management of Overweight and Obesity in Australia
Policy, n.d.). The policy statement outlines that if effective interventions are not adopted, there
will be an increase in the number of obese people by 50%. This will lead to a rise in the marginal
and cumulative costs to an estimated $87.7 by 2025 (Obesity - Australia's biggest public health
challenge, 2018). The policy statement also outlines the fact that the prevalence of obesity is
high among the Aboriginal people and people from low socio-economic backgrounds due to
unhealthy eating and lack of adequate physical activities. The policy statement includes the fact
that obesity prevention is not among the government's priority as it has stopped funding and it
has also abolished the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (Policy Position
Statements, n.d.).
Therefore, the policy suggests that the government ensures adequate funding on projects
and initiatives that aim at reducing obesity. The policy also indicates that the government
increases the tax on sugary foods. Secondly, the policy suggests that the government increases
the tax on sugary foods (Policy Position Statements, n.d.).Thirdly, the policy suggests that the
government adopts a transport strategy that promotes walking and cycling. Lastly, the policy is
keen on ensuring that the government develops and implements new physical activity and
national nutrition strategies. The potential significance of the policy on health services includes
increased access to preventive health services to help reduce obesity (Prevention and
Management of Overweight and Obesity in Australia Policy, n.d.).
Other options that the policy can adopt include encouraging the government to enact laws
that may impose hefty fines on the food industries that continue to produce unhealthy foods
without proper food labelling. Laws that can help increase hefty fines on media houses that

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breach the advertisement law should be enacted (Swinburn, 2016). There should also be days
where the whole country engages in physical activities collectively. There should also be health
education materials such as posters that can indicate the effects of obesity and how to control it.
The production of healthy foods should be encouraged especially among the people with low
socioeconomic status (National Preventative Health Taskforce, 2016).

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