The Australasian Society for the Study of Obesity (ASSO) and the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care held a joint symposium to discuss strategies for reducing the incidence of obesity. The result of the symposium was the report: Acting on Australia’s Weight. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) had recognised that overweight and obesity poses a major public health problem in Australia, and had therefore developed this strategic plan, published in 1997.
The aim of the strategic plan is to prevent further weight gain and overweight and obesity, as well as ultimately reducing the proportion of the Australian adult population that is overweight or obese, and also ensuring the healthy growth of children.
The report reviews the impact of obesity in Australia and attempts to outline possible intervention strategies. The report and the strategic recommendations it contains are principally orientated towards public health prevention. Overall, the plan takes a population-based approach that focuses on changing the macro-environment in order to assist people in undertaking physical activity and making healthier food choices.
Website:
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) –
http://www.health.gov.au/nhmrc
Reference:
National Health and Medical Research Council. Acting on
Australia’s Weight: A strategic plan for the prevention of
overweight and obesity. Canberra: AGPS, 1997.