Technical Paper 1:
Obesity in Australia: a need for urgent action
3.2.10 - Population-wide focus
- 1 - Executive summary
2 - Obesity in Australia
3 - Obesity prevention- 3.1 - What could be achieved in obesity control
- 3.2 - What is required to address the problem
- 3.2.1 - Prompt action
- 3.2.2 - Multi-faceted, multi-sectoral response
- 3.2.3 - Leadership and coordination
- 3.2.4 - Role of individuals
- 3.2.5 - Role of governments
- 3.2.6 - Role of healthcare systems
- 3.2.7 - Social determinants of health
- 3.2.8 - The environment
- 3.2.9 - Working with industry
- 3.2.10 - Population-wide focus
- 3.2.11 - High-risk groups
- 3.2.12 - Costs
- 3.2.13 - Research, monitoring and evaluation
- 4 - Potential initiatives
- Conclusion
- References
- Addendum for October 2008 to June 2009
There is a clear need to balance policy directions that focus on individual and personal responsibility with a population-wide focus on policies that support and facilitate healthy eating and physical activity. Evidence indicates there is a wide range of forces, most of which are outside the control of individuals and families, that interact to shape patterns of overweight and obesity, and the high rates of overweight and obesity in the community warrant a population-level response. According to the World Health Organization.
‘A life-course perspective is essential for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. This approach starts with maternal health and prenatal nutrition, pregnancy outcomes, exclusive breastfeeding for six months, and child and adolescent health; reaches children at schools, adults at worksites and other settings, and the elderly; and encourages a healthy diet and regular physical activity from youth into old age.’[50]