Technical Paper 1:
Obesity in Australia: a need for urgent action
3.2.7 - Social determinants of health
Table of contents
- 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
Healthcare systems should be designed to ensure equitable, universal coverage and access, with adequate human resources. Health systems need to combine locally organised action on the social determinants of health with strengthened primary care. It is important that there is adequate funding for prevention and health promotion as well as treatment. Progress towards health equity requires addressing economic inequality. Policy coherence and inter-sectoral action for health – ‘health in all policies’ – are essential, and renewed government leadership is urgently needed to balance public and private sector interests.[46]