Policy Brief on Obesity: COD504 Community, Policy, and Change

This report presents an analysis of an obesity policy brief written for the Australian federal government, focusing on the reduction of obesity and promotion of a healthy lifestyle. The brief outlines the current National Obesity Strategy and the Obesity Policy Coalition, highlighting the roles of state and local authorities in implementation. The report identifies challenges such as the ineffectiveness of current approaches, lack of awareness, and the failure to consider demographic and geographic contexts. It proposes alternative policy options, including developing local-level policies, modifying the current federal approach by dividing it into stages, and integrating policies with health campaigns. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the federal government and NGOs, offering potential solutions to address the social challenges of obesity and promote better health outcomes. The report concludes with a list of relevant references.

COD504 Community, Policy and Change:
Study guide

Purpose of policy brief
A policy brief is written to advise government or an organisation to make changes in policy and
focus on specific issue. Also, it provides some suggestions as well to change policy approach.
Besides that, it gives insight on particular issue that occurs. With help of policy brief it is easy for
government to take effective decision.
Thus, a new policy is formed by it. Similarly, this policy brief is written to federal government of
Australia relate to the issue of policy on reducing obesity and promoting healthy life. So, it will focus
on things related to how

CONT..
Thus, a common approach is followed through entire Australia. The roles are mentioned in brief with
no specific time frame or goals.
The state and local authority follow guidelines as issued in policy. They provide monthly report by
collecting and analysis data and info. Also, resources are used in order to execute policy.
The policies followed in Australia is National obesity strategy. It focuses on finding out factors
leading to obesity and preventing it. Another policy is Obesity policy coalition. It was formed with
aim of influencing change in policy and regulation to support obesity prevention. .

Summary of concise policy challenge
It has been analysed that there are many social issues been faced by people of Australia in this
policy. This has highly impacted on people lifestyle. Among various issues obesity is major challenge
for government to tackle it.
Thus, the federal government has formed a policy to reduce obesity and promote good health in
Australia. The policy is applied by state and local authorities. However, there are certain social
challenge within policy which makes it difficult for government to implement it.
The major challenge is approach included in it ineffective and complex. So, it leads to non proper
execution. Moreover, the resources and guidelines are briefly defined. Hence, it does not give proper
insight or in depth info about what actions or measures are to be taken. It has been identified that
there is lack of awareness among people. They are not aware about symptoms of obesity and
benefit of eating healthy food. Therefore , policy is not executed at individual level by people of
Australia.

CONT..
Another social challenge of policy in Australia is that the policy is not developed by taking into
consideration of demographic and geographic context of people in different states. It becomes
difficult to execute it those areas where there are large number of people suffering from obesity.
Then, the authority has to develop their own policy and inform to federal.
Furthermore, they have to use their own resources. Thus, this leads to rise in burden on them as
central does not provide any support. Often times as well it leads to conflict between them.
Therefore, federal monitor closely on it and if possible, policy is discarded. Moreover, state and local
is not able to work freely with them.
The roles of NGO’s are not specified clearly so it does not clarify what they have to do and how.
Alongside, no time frame is mentioned in it in which monitoring and reporting is to be done.

Identification of some policy options
It has been identified that there are some alternative policy options as well which can be applied
by Australian government. Here, first is they can develop policy at local level by identifying
demographics of people suffering from obesity. Moreover, the approach in current federal policy can
be modified.
They can divide policy into several stages and design a proper framework to monitor its
implementation. Apart from that, goals and objectives can be set on basis of certain levels like for
state and local it must be different. In addition, emphasis can be on promoting good health rather
than reducing obesity.
It will automatically lead to solving social problem of obesity among society.

CONT..
Another option that can be followed is integration of policy with some health related campaign. In
this government can implement this policy with help of campaign. This will be easy to initiate other
tasks.
Moreover, federal government can work in coordination with NGO’s as well. So, for that they can
redesign this policy and make some changes in it.
Thus, it will allow in assigning roles of NGO and providing them essential resources to achieve
goals of policy. Through that it will be easy for both state and federal government to solve social
issue.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Sabo, S., Flores, M. and Ingram, M., 2017. Community health workers promote civic engagement
and organizational capacity to impact policy. Journal of community health, 42(6), pp.1197-
1203.
Green, A.M. and Rissel, C., 2020. Implementation of an Early Childhood Healthy Eating and Physical
Activity Program in New South Wales, Australia: Munch & Move. Frontiers in Public Health, 8,
p.34.
Keramat, S.A. and Biddle, S.J., 2020. Job-Related Characteristics and Obesity in Australian
Employees: Evidence From a Longitudinal Nationally Representative Sample. American
Journal of Health Promotion, p.0890117119901093.
James, A., Mendolia, S. and Paloyo, A.R., 2020. Intergenerational Transmission of Body Mass and
Obesity Status in Australia. Economic Record.

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