Public Health Report: Obesity in Hume City Council - Strategies

This report addresses the public health concern of obesity within the Hume City Council. It identifies and defines community-based assets, structures, and existing resources designed to tackle the issue. The report highlights the council's initiatives, including campaigns promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles, and emphasizes the council's collaboration with community members and other partners. It references the Hume City Council's commitment to fostering a healthy environment, detailing facilities like playgrounds, sporting grounds, and community gardens that support residents' wellbeing. The report also references the council's efforts in promoting community events, health checkups, and screenings. The conclusion emphasizes the significance of healthy diets in preventing chronic diseases and premature death, highlighting the council's measures to promote healthy living and reduce obesity rates.

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Obesity in The Hume City Council
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Obesity in The Hume City Council
Globally obesity is a significant cause of diseases and death. Being obese or overweight
is a considerable risk factor for developing cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes,
hypertension, osteoarthritis, and certain cancers (Cyril, Polonsky, Green, Agho & Renzaho,
2017). In Australia, obesity is the leading cause of diseases and premature deaths. Unhealthy
eating habits are predominantly recognized as significant risk factors for obesity and overweight
and other diseases (Cyril et al., 2017. This essay will Identify and define community-based
assets, present structure, and existing resources designed to address obesity in Hume city council.
It is predicted that by 2025, at least 83% of males and 75% of females aged over twenty
years in the Australian population will be obese or overweight. Obesity is most common in
children, especially in individuals from low social, economic groups (Casey, Oppert, Weber,
Charreire, Salze, Badariotti & Simon, 2014). In Hume city, 55% of the population is overweight
or obese. The council is loyal to develop a city that supports the wellbeing and health of its
residents as well as visitors (Casey et al., 2014). The city aims to work with community members
along aside other partners who have the same agenda for the city.
The council has outlined several ways in which the residents of Hume city can remain
healthy, connected, active, and reduce obesity significantly. The city council has promoted
healthy eating lifestyles through different campaigns through social media by encouraging
people to support drive (Hume City Council, 2018). The council has engaged the residents as
they believe creating a healthy community is a team effort with the support of the state
government and council.

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During different consultations with the resident people identified different ways in which
they use to ensure they follow a healthy lifestyle as they try to prevent weight gain and obesity
(Casey et al., 2014). Hume City has various facilities that have significantly contributed to the
health and wellbeing of its citizens including playgrounds, sporting grounds, cycling paths,
parks, and open spaces, and community gardens where people can take a walk, run, jog, cycle or
take up a sporting activity to ensure they remain active (Hume City Council, 2018). People have
also been engaged in the city to ensure they not only look after their health but also their
families, neighbors, and community. The city has promoted its residents to engage in community
events and activities and has also sponsored regular health checkups and screening. The city has
achieved the Australian guideline of two serves of fruits per day.
Through the different partnership and engagement between the city and its residents, the
city has managed to achieve tremendously towards having a healthy community, the rate of
obesity in Hume city has significantly reduced over time, and a significant number of the
residents are taking up healthy eating habits by the reduction of discretionary foods (VHPF,
2016). A considerable number of residents in the city wants healthy diets for their families;
however, a gap is often realized between the aspirations and their daily routine. The council is
working towards making the residents aspirations a reality by promoting a healthy environment
for its residents since the surroundings play a significant role in influencing the food choices
(Hume City Council, 2018).
In conclusion, obesity and unhealthy diets are the leading risk factors attributed to the
burden of diseases in Australia and across the globe. A healthy diet contributes significantly to
healthy weight, wellbeing, and quality of life and reduces an individual’s risk of getting chronic

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diseases leading to premature death. Hume city council has put in measures and structures to
ensure it promotes a nurtures healthy living.

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References
Cyril, S., Polonsky, M., Green, J., Agho, K., & Renzaho, A. (2017). Readiness of communities to
engage with childhood obesity prevention initiatives in disadvantaged areas of Victoria,
Australia. Australian Health Review, 41(3), 297-307.
Casey, R., Oppert, J. M., Weber, C., Charreire, H., Salze, P., Badariotti, D., ... & Simon, C.
(2014). Determinants of childhood obesity: what can we learn from built environment
studies?. Food Quality and Preference, 31, 164-172.
Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VHPF). (2016). Obesity and healthy eating in
Australia.
Health. (2015, March 24). Retrieved from
https://www.hume.vic.gov.au/About_Us_Contact_Details/Your_Council/
Hume_Advocates/Priority_projects/Health date of access 9th Sep 2019.
An apple a day keeps obesity at bay. (2015, March 24). Retrieved from
https://www.hume.vic.gov.au/About_Us_Contact_Details/Your_Council/
Media_Publications_Forms/Media_Releases/Media_Releases_2015/
anappleaday_keeps_obesity_at_bay date of access 9th Sep 2019.
Hume City Council. (2018, September 17). Hume City Council Annual Report 2017/18.
Retrieved from
https://www.hume.vic.gov.au/files/sharedassets/hume_website/publications/
annual_reports/2017-18_hume_city_council_annual_report_weboptimised date of access
9th Sep 2019.

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