Technical Paper 1:
Obesity in Australia: a need for urgent action
3.2.12 - Costs
- 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
Given the magnitude of the obesity problem in Australia, the cost of a comprehensive strategy to address it could be substantial. For example, costs for a comprehensive population-level strategy targeting obesity may be considered in the context of the UK Government’s strategy ‘Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives’, aimed at reversing the rise in obesity prevalence in the UK. This strategy comprises funding of £372 million for the period 2008–2011, on top of additional investment of £1.3 billion in school food, sport and play initiatives, and £140 million pounds for Cycling England for the same time period.[35] However, costs for prevention and management need to be considered in light of the estimated economic cost to the nation, and balanced with the gains to be made for effective strategies that will also ultimately address the comorbidities associated with excess weight. For example, evidence suggests that as BMI increases, so do length of hospital stay, medical consultations and use of medication.[32]