Policy Analysis: The National Preventative Health Strategy & Obesity

This report provides a comprehensive policy analysis of the National Preventative Health Strategy in Australia, specifically focusing on obesity prevention. It begins by highlighting the significance of addressing obesity due to its increasing prevalence and associated health and economic burdens. The analysis delves into the reasons for choosing this policy, summarizing Chapter 2 of the policy document, which outlines strategies to reverse obesity trends and prevent related adverse effects. The report identifies problems hindering the policy's implementation, including a lack of political goodwill, insufficient funding, and social factors such as marketing of unhealthy foods. It then proposes objectives such as adopting a whole-of-government strategy, reducing children's exposure to unhealthy food marketing, improving the Health Star Rating System, and ensuring sustainable funding for preventative health initiatives. The report emphasizes the urgency of intervention to prevent further increases in obesity rates and associated health and economic consequences, advocating for comprehensive strategies to promote healthy nutrition and lifestyles.

Running head: THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEG-THE
ROADMAP FOR ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION) 1
Policy Analysis: The National Preventative Health Strategy – The Roadmap for Action 30
June 2009 (Obesity Prevention)
Name:
Institutional Affiliation:

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
The National Preventative Health Strategy – The Roadmap for Action 30 June 2009 (Obesity
Prevention)
1. Introduction
The significance of Obesity in Australia
The recent decades have seen a rise in the cases of obesity in Australia. This has been
observed across all age groups but more so among adults in the population. Obesity in the
population is linked to not only other related chronic diseases, but also adds up to the
economic burden of meeting hospital bills. In the year 1995, statistics on Australians aged
above 18 years indicated that 64.9 per cent males and 49.4 per cent females were classified as
obese and/or overweight (Harris, Fetherston, & Calder, 2017). Recently in-between 2014 and
2015, these proportions rose to 70.8 per cent males and 56.3 per cent females. Comparatively,
the adult obesity rate of Australia is approximated to the 5th highest among the countries
forming up the OECD countries (OECD, 2017). Between the years 2014 and 2015, about
27.2 per cent of the Australian children population within the age of 5 to 17 years were rated
as being either obese or overweight. Among them, 7.4 per cent were classified as living with
obesity. If there are no interventions today, more Australians will be overweight or obese in
the future (Martin, 2018). The National Preventative Health Taskforce estimated that if there
are no interventions, about 6 million of the Australian population will be overweight or obese
in the year 2020. By 2025, 73 per cent of Australians will be overweight or obese (Gray &
Holman, 2009). In this regard, a third of children and three quarters of the country’s
population will be overweight or obese. This will present with 2 years fall in life expectancy
of Australian children once they attain 20 years of age. Overweight and obesity related type
2 diabetes will hike from the current $1.3 to an approximated $8.0 billion by the year 2032
(Harris et al., 2017). It is thus clear that obesity is a very significant issue that needs to be

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
addressed through water-tight policies to prevent the potential effect of related lifestyle
diseases and reduce healthcare costs. This study thus presents the reason for choosing this
policy on obesity for review, the identified problem, the critical discussion evidence/analysis
of the policy, the identified decision parameters, and a conclusion.
Reason for Choosing Policy
The choice to analyse the National Preventative Health Strategy–The Roadmap
particularly on obesity prevention is because of the danger caused by obesity on the
Australian population today and in the near future. From the above statistics, it is clear that
obesity will bring about more costs on healthcare for Australians, will predispose the
population to chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, and will end up reducing the life
expectancy of the young generation by 2 years if not prevented today (Harris et al., 2017).
This policy needs to be analysed in order to track the effects of its implementation as adopted
by the Australian federal government since 2009, on obesity cases.
Summary of Policy Document: Chapter 2: Obesity in Australia: A Need For Urgent
Action
This chapter focuses on highlighting the strategies towards reversing the increasing
trend of obesity among Australians. It also aims at managing and preventing obesity while
targeting the prevention of related adverse effects such as type 2 diabetes and higher costs of
medication for the population (Obesity Policy Coalition (2018). In regard to these targets, the
policy put it upon Australian health authorities and the government to increase the number of
Australian adults and children that have healthy body weight by 3 per cent in the following
10 years. The authorities also were to increase the number of Australians that meet the
national healthy eating and/or physical activity guidelines by 15 per cent within the following
six years (Martin, 2018). Further, the strategy directed the health authorities and the

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
Australian government to ensure; that a start to life for children is healthy, and that promotion
of parenting and supportive communities in a positive way is paramount.
The chapter as a policy on obesity has action areas that are structured towards halting
and/or reversing the increasing trend in overweight and obesity cases in Australia by the year
2020. First, it recommends the need for health authorities to institute community-based
environmental changes that can boost physical activity levels in the populace and thus reduce
cases of a sedentary lifestyle. The second action area was that authorities needed to drive
change in the food supply in order to ensure that healthier food options are sold to the
citizens. Thirdly, the policy recommends as the need to reduce cases of exposing children and
even adults marketing messages of products which encourage consumption of energy-dense
but nutrient-poor foods including beverages (Sacks, Martin, & Veerman, 2016). The policy
also calls upon health authorities and the Australian government(s) to address maternal and/or
child health care also as to enhance a healthy early life.
The piece of legislation also calls upon the authorities to support communities that
have low-income earning population, so as to improve their physical activity levels and boost
healthy eating. In regard to the indigenous population, the policy recommends a need to
reduce the prevalence of obesity and its burden among the Indigenous Australians. Further,
the policy as structured by The National Preventative Health Taskforce, recommended a need
to build an evidence base, and carry out a monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of
the mentioned actions.
Policy Analysis
The Identified Problem
After the release and adoption by the “Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020 –
National Preventative Health Taskforce Strategy –The Roadmap for Action (the Roadmap)”
by the National Preventative Health Taskforce it was clear that Australia had finally found

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
strategy that could reverse the high cases of chronic diseases caused by alcoholism, obesity,
and tobacco. The hopes of the advocacy groups that promoted campaigns against obesity
were even lifted higher by the Australian government’s 2010 positive response committing to
support the report’s implementation. Even so, there are factors that have hindered the
implementation of this policy.
In line with Althaus, Bridgman & Davis (2013) the main and first factor that has
limited the implementation of the policy is the lack of political goodwill to support the
program, especially on obesity prevention. It is most more than 8 years since the strategy
was passed by the Taskforce and ratified by the Australian government. Even so, the general
progress is quite disappointing as the government has not put preventative health among its
high priorities. The government, in fact, supported the Australian National Preventative
Health Agency (ANPHA) abolishment in the year 2014 when actually the institution had
been set up early in 2011 to direct and spearhead Australia’s preventative health initiatives as
well as research (Obesity Policy Coalition, 2018). This political move of course worked
against the recommended strategies as there was a reduced jurisdiction that could oversee a
full implementation of the policy. Considering that ANPHA was expected to be contributing
to research on obesity in Australia apart from carrying out preventative initiatives, its
abolition also brought to a halt any efforts on obesity research. Any crucial statistics that
would inform the government on decision-making regarding obesity, alcohol, and smoking
including their influence on lifestyle, can no longer be provided by a centralized body as
ANPHA was doing (Obesity Policy Coalition, 2018). This puts the population at risk of
obesity, smoking, and alcoholism as data on these factors becomes limited.
Another factor that has hampered this policy on obesity prevention is insufficient
funds. According to Althaus et al (2013), it is important to analyse from the economics point
of view. In this regard, the “The Road Map” as the policy on obesity, alcohol, and smoking

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
faces an economic problem. Among the main source of funding was the Commonwealth fund
that is usually given to states to provide Australians in their regions with programs on healthy
lifestyles within the National Preventative Health Agreement. This fund was also stopped.
This means that the fight against obesity in Australia is being underfunded and thus the
strategies set out in the National Preventative Health Strategy (2009) are not being fully
implemented. Lack of funding for any policy means that its implementation is not guaranteed
and neither is its monitoring and evaluation plans likely to occur. A lack of sustained funding
for the policy hampers its implementation across Australia. Only some states take up a
section of the strategies while others under-fund or ignore a large section of its stipulations.
In terms of social factors, children in Australia, as well as adults, are treated to
marketing and advertising platforms that promote the use of high-energy products. Junk
foods are thus being preferred as fast foods, a trend that has been common amongst the
majority of Australians both in urbanized areas and in the local communities (Sacks et al.,
2016). The abolition of ANPHA also contributed to this problem. There is no institution that
can now set targets for the Australian population dietary intake as well as reduction of key
food nutrients in major categories of food. The organization as set up had a direct influence
on the information displayed as marketing messages to the population (Obesity Policy
Coalition, 2018). It would recommend governmental limiting of such information but
considering its abolishment, children and adult Australians are enticed to junk foods with
high fat content, which contribute to overweight and obesity.
2. Evidence of Critical Discussion & Analysis
Identified Objectives
Considering the alarming rise of overweight and obese cases in Australia combined
with the economic, political and social problems outlined above, it is clear that there is need
for a serious operational intervention that will revive the implementation of the strategies of

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
the National Preventative Health Taskforce. If there are no interventions today, more
Australians will be overweight or obese in the future. It is important to note that if there are
no interventions, about 6 million of the Australian population will be overweight or obese in
the year 2020 (Obesity Policy Coalition, 2018). This will present with 2 years fall in life
expectancy of Australian children once they attain 20 years of age. Overweight and obesity
related type 2 diabetes will hike from the current $1.3 to an approximated $8.0 billion by the
year 2032 (Harris et al., 2017). There is thus need for an urgent range of comprehensive of
interventions that will bring about behaviour change among Australians towards healthy
nutrition, improve lifestyles, and minimize the current chronic disease burden in the country.
As for the first objective, there is a need for Australia to adopt a whole-of-government
strategy aimed at preventing obesity as is also recommended in Holman & Smith (2008).
This is in line with the Obesity Policy Coalition which indicates the importance of
ameliorating obesity among Australians. Secondly, there is need to reduce exposing children
to marketing messages targeted at increasing the sale of unhealthy food in the media. This is
in line with the Global Obesity Centre at Australia’s Deakin University. The third goal should
be to improve Australia’s Health Star Rating System which will have all labels on foods sold
indicating the health levels of packaged foods (Sacks et al., 2016). This will inform health
choices.
The fourth objective should include a sustainable funding of mass media campaigns
so as to boost adoption of healthy foods and prevent obesity (Obesity Australia, 2015).
Another goal should focus on committing a funding that is sustainable towards facilitating
continuous comprehensive nutrition survey every 5 to 10 years. This is in line with the WHO
guidelines on obesity. Further, interventions should focus on the objective of reducing sugar-
sweetened products in Australia as well as a reduction in calories in key food nutrients sold in
the country.

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
Identified Decision Parameters
One of the decision parameters includes resources. There is a need for resources
including monetary funds and set-up institutions that can oversee the whole-of-government
strategy on controlling the increasing trend of obesity and related chronic diseases in
Australia (ABC News, 2017). Concerning timelines, there is a need for an immediate uptake
of the above goals and objectives before 2020 as the projections indicate that a huge size of
the population will be overweight and obese by 2020. Particularly, according to Harris et al
(2017), 73% of the Australian population will be either obese or overweight by 2025 and this
means that the above interventions including the recommendations of the National
Preventative Health Taskforce, should be implemented.
As for priorities, mobilising of sustainable funding awareness campaigns against
obesity, smoking and alcoholism should the first priority. Secondly, the Australian
government should recommit itself to forming an institution as was ANPHA, to spearhead
and oversee the implementation of the strategies given as objectives as well as those set out in
the Roadmap (2009). Further priority can be given to a continuous and active monitoring and
evaluation of new and already existing obesity prevention campaigns. All these can be
backed up by research institutions such as the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) which is
composed of the Cancer Council Victoria, the Global Obesity Centre, and the Diabetes
Victoria, all of which are committed to research on an evidence-based policy that can address
overweight and obesity.
Identified Alternatives
Despite the fact that a national approach to preventing obesity in Australia has not
been in place after the abolition of the ANPHA, there have been alternative policies that have
helped in controlling obesity cases. States, as well as territories, have varied types of such
policies on prevention of obesity and lifestyle diseases. Strong political leadership at state

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
levels determine the level and extent of obesity prevention intervention policy being
implemented. The NSW state government has been for instance, committed to reducing
childhood obesity through active monitoring of overweight and obesity rates, boosting
community education on a healthy lifestyle as well as initiating and funding the infamous
healthy canteen strategy (Obesity Policy Coalition, 2018). The strategy ensures that residents
have healthy foods as options in groceries and in the market. Another alternative policy
includes The Australian Capital Territory’s Towards Zero Growth – Healthy Weight Action
Plan 2013, which provides responsibilities, goals, and priorities that are all cross-sectoral, for
improving health within the Australian Capital Territory. Thirdly, there are local
governments which have continually risen to be health promotion and/or prevention policy
key drivers. As an example, the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan comprise of
planned actions that municipalities should utilize in reducing sugary drinks (Obesity Policy
Coalition, 2018). As a result, Victorian municipalities have become leaders in the creation of
healthy drinks environments through adopting mechanisms aimed at increasing access to
water while reducing sugary food consumption such as drinks. This has been made possible
through guidelines provided by the Victorian Government’s Healthy Choices (Obesity Policy
Coalition, 2018). It is clear from these alternatives, however, that there is no specific
comprehensive way that has been developed to nationally prevent obesity in Australia, as was
ANPHA which was unfortunately abolished in 2014.
Lobby groups in Australia have carried out policy advocacy on obesity and lifestyle
diseases and agitated for the implementation of the strategies set out in the roadmap drawn by
the National Preventative Health Taskforce. These include mainly, the Obesity Policy
Coalition (OPC) which is composed of the Cancer Council Victoria, the Global Obesity
Centre, and the Diabetes Victoria organisation.
3. Conclusion

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
In conclusion Chapter 2 of the 2009 report by the National Preventative Health Taskforce
entitled “Obesity in Australia: A Need For Urgent Action” is a crucial policy whose
stipulations would have seen reversed numbers in Australians in terms of being overweight
and obese. The chapter recommended a need for among others; for health authorities to
institute community-based environmental changes that can boost physical activity levels in
the populace and thus reduce cases of sedentary lifestyle; authorities to drive change in food
supply in order to ensure that healthier food options are sold to the citizens; reduce cases of
exposing children and even adults to marketing messages of products which encourage
consumption of energy-dense but nutrient-poor foods including beverages; authorities and the
Australian government(s) to address maternal and/or child health care also as to enhance a
healthy early life; the authorities to support communities that have low-income earning
population, so as to improve their physical activity levels and boost healthy eating; reduce the
prevalence of obesity and its burden among the Indigenous Australians; and a need to build
an evidence base, and carry out an effective monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of
the mentioned actions. From the discussion, however, there are economic, social and
political factors that hindered the implementation of this policy. The factors included lack of
funding, the abolishment of ANPHA in 2014, and the continued widespread unregulated
exposure of Australians to advertisements of unhealthy food products, as economic, political
and social respectively. Obesity is not only a health threat in Australia but also in the UK,
where healthcare plans are however in place to counter any rise of the condition going
forward. Obesity is likely to reduce the life expectancy of Australian children by 2 years
when they reach 20 years old. It also predisposes them to early childhood diabetes. As for
women, obesity breeds gestational diabetes, cases of still births, macrosoma among
newborns, and dystocia among the newborns (Gray & Holman, 2009). As for the males,
obesity predisposes them to insulin resistance and they end up developing diabetes. Other

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
lifestyle conditions related to this particular problem include hypertension. Obesity and its
related health condition increase the cost of healthcare for all the Australians (World Health
Organisation (2010). It is thus important that the Australian government and the state
governments put in place national measures that will see a committed society on preventing
obesity, alcoholism, and smoking.
One recommendation for change is that there is a need for the Australian government to
reinstitute a new organization that will see a countrywide or national campaign against
obesity. The Australian government needs to understand the important position that ANPHA
had and thus re-introduce a similar body that will oversee the implementation of the strategies
suggested by the National Preventative Health Taskforce in 2009. The functioning of this
organization will be easy because it has the strategies already set out by the Taskforce.
Leaving the state and territorial governments to fight their own wars on obesity is the
government’s undoing. Obesity will bring about the increase in the number of chronic
diseases amongst Australians and more so, its young population. It is thus important that the
political affiliation in the country and the country’s leadership reconsiders their stand on
preventative health. They should create the “overseer institution” and fund it so as to see
success in the fight against obesity. The government can also in this particular view, mobilize
funds from organizations such as the Commonwealth to once again boost the fight against
obesity.

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
References
ABC News. (2017). Australia 'running behind' in obesity prevention policy: health
specialists. [online] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-13/australia-
running-behind-in-obesity-prevention/8263816 [Accessed 17 May 2018].
Althaus, C., Bridgman, P., & Davis, G. (2013). A policy cycle. In The Australian policy
handbook (5th ed., pp. 32-42). Crow’s Nest, Australia: Allen & Unwin
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2014). Australian Health Survey: Nutrition First Results –
Foods and Nutrients 2011-2012 14 Australian Bureau of Statistics.
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4
364.0.55.007~2011- 12~Main%20Features~Discretionary%20foods~700
Australian Capital Territory Government – Towards Zero Growth – Healthy Weight Action
Plan 2013
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2016). Australian Burden of Disease study:
Impact and causes of illness and death in Australia 2011. Australian Burden of
Disease Study series no. 3. BOD 4. Canberra: AIHW
http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129 555476
Gray, V., & Holman, C. (2009). Deaths and premature loss of life caused by overweight and
obesity in Australia 2011-2050.
Harris, B, Fetherston, H & Calder, R. (2017). Australia’s Health Tracker by Socio-Economic
Status 2017. Australian Health Policy Collaboration: Melbourne, Victoria University,
November 2017. 8
Holman C, Smith F. (2008). Implications of the obesity epidemic for the life expectancy of
Australians. Report to the Western Australian Institute for Public Health Advocacy.
School of Population Health, University of Western Australia.

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
Martin, J. (2018). How we get sucked in by junk food specials in supermarkets - Obesity
Policy Coalition. [online] Opc.org.au. Available at:
http://www.opc.org.au/media/opinion/op20180413.html [Accessed 17 May 2018].
Obesity Australia (2015). Obesity: Its impact on Australia and a case for action. No time to
Weight 2. Sydney.
Obesity Policy Coalition (2018). Overweight, Obesity and Chronic Diseases in Australia.
Retrieved from http://www.opc.org.au/downloads/policy-briefs/overweight-obesity-
and-chronic-disease-in-australia.pdf
OECD. (2017). Health at a Glance 2017 – OECD Indicators. , p80. 3
Sacks, G., Martin, J. and Veerman, L. (2016). Australian sugary drinks tax could prevent
thousands of heart attacks and strokes and save 1,600 lives. [online] The
Conversation. Available at: http://theconversation.com/australian-sugary-drinks-tax-
could-prevent-thousands-of-heart-attacks-and-strokes-and-save-1-600-lives-56439
[Accessed 17 May 2018].
Swinburn B, Sacks G, Ravussin E. (2009). Increased food energy supply is more than
sufficient to explain the US epidemic of obesity. American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition 2009; 90(6): 1453- 1456.
The Herald/Age (2011). Lateral Economics Index of Australia’s Wellbeing: Final Report.
Available at: https://lateraleconomics.com.au/wpcontent/uploads/2014/02/Fairfax-
Lateral-Economics-Index-ofAustralias-Wellbeing-Final-Report.pdf
World Health Organisation (2010). Childhood overweight and obesity: what are the causes? :
World Health Organisation.
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4364.0.55.007
main+features7102011-12 13

THE NATIONAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGY – THE ROADMAP FOR
ACTION 30 JUNE 2009 (OBESITY PREVENTION)
World Health Organisation (2016). Report of the Commission into Ending Childhood
Obesity, Geneva Switzerland.