08 October 2008

Anti-obesity initiative launched for South West Sydney

NSW Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, has launched an anti-obesity initiative in South West Sydney to curb the growing number of people who are overweight.

“About 50 percent of adults in NSW are overweight or obese,” the Minister said.

“More concerning is one in four school children in NSW are also struggling with the same condition.

“If current trends continue, it is estimated that by 2025, 50 per cent of children and adolescents across the State will be overweight or obese.

“Apart from the personal health burden, such as diabetes and heart disease, obesity costs the NSW community about $7 billion a year.

“The Sydney South West Area Health Service Overweight and Obesity Prevention and Management Plan aims to promote and support healthier lifestyles.

“Evidence suggests that a child’s relationship with food and exercise is most strongly affected by their parent’s habits.

“If we want to reduce obesity rates we have to ensure families are learning to make healthier choices and this is the core focus of this new initiative,” Mr Della Bosca said.

Strategies outlined in the Plan include:
• Working with early childhood centres, pre-schools and primary schools to implement nutrition and physical activity policies and programs, including Munch and Move – a program which informs early childhood professionals, children, parents and families about appropriate physical activity and foods.
• Implementing the Healthy Beginnings Sustained Home Visiting Project for new mothers to provide advice about nutrition including breast feeding, the introduction of solids and physical activities.
• Promoting the use of bicycles through road safety programs at schools and within the local community.
• Workshops for local schools to help them implement the Healthy School Canteen Strategy.

Professor Ian Caterson, Boden Professor of Human Nutrition and Director of the Institute of Obesity, Nutrition and Exercise, SSWAHS said overweight and obesity was a difficult problem for families to solve on their own.

“If people want help making a healthy lifestyle change, their first step should be a visit to their GP,” he said.

“This plan outlines strategies on how the Area Health Service, local councils, GPs and other agencies can work together to create environments that make it easier for people to live a healthy and active lifestyle,” Professor Caterson said.

“Being overweight or obese can substantially increase your risk of developing chronic illness including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and even some cancers,” he added.

The recommendations of the Area Health’s clinicians and other health professionals, external agencies and services together with the views of more than 300 community members were used to shape the strategies that will be implemented over the next five years.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au