The Federal Government’s National Obesity Strategy 2022-2032 is welcome, but lacks clear direction and disregards an existing model, which was ready for implementation, says a leading social health expert.
Dr Michelle Jones from Flinders University says the Strategy has drawn on some of the lessons learned from the Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle (OPAL) Program, however, it’s missing some of its key pillars.
“With OPAL, there was an existing model the Australian government could have implemented and made a commitment to funding to ensure its longevity,” she says, “but instead we get a piecemeal approach and no clear understanding of who will coordinate the strategy and who will pay for it.”
Dr Jones highlights other shortcomings of the 10-year Strategy, including its “over-reliance on individual responsibility and a lack of legislation that helps bridge the advertising divide between big fast-food manufacturers and local suppliers”.
“Obesity prevention is not as simple as telling people to lose weight or get out and exercise,” says Dr Jones.
“This ignores the socio-economic factors that underpin people’s health and underestimates the impact of the advertising industry and its ability to influence people’s choices.
“We currently have big food companies, especially fast food, able to advertise at any time of day and target children and at the same time representatives of fruit and vegetable growers can’t match this advertising buying power; this imbalance could be changed through legislation, rather than hopeful thinking.
“The health impacts of obesity are more far-reaching than alcohol and smoking, both of which are heavily restricted in terms of advertising.
“We should have laws that say what ads can be shown when, how food is packaged to children, and we should be subsidising our local fresh food suppliers to help them to advertise and ensure people are nudged into making healthier food choices,” she says.
About OPAL
The OPAL Program was an Australian, State and local government-funded program piloted in South Australia aimed at helping “implement strategies that improved the eating habits and physical activity levels of children through their families and the community” before funding was withdrawn, says Dr Jones.
“The integrative context-process-outcome evaluation of the program found it was working, with a demonstrated reduction in childhood obesity through modifying environments,” says Dr Jones.
“However, one of the biggest issues was the sustainability of the program, as without ongoing funding not all of the activities could be maintained.”
The OPAL Program occurred locally, responding to identified local needs, including community programs to encourage healthy eating and environmental upgrades to promote physical activity, such as walking trails, bike paths and play equipment.
“With OPAL, there was an existing model the Australian government could have implemented and made a commitment to funding to ensure its longevity,” says Dr Jones.
