NSW Health Obesity Strategy

I wish our Government would implement something like this in the United States for people who suffer from the disease of obesity.

04 August 2008

New $36 million statewide strategy to tackle rising obesity

NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher today unveiled a $36 million statewide Obesity Strategy to tackle the rising incidence of overweight and obesity across NSW.

Key aspects of the NSW Health Obesity Strategy include:
· A sustained statewide social marketing campaign promoting the importance of healthy eating and physical activity
· Establishment of a NSW Get Healthy Advice Line - a telephone help line to provide information and coaching for people who have decided to make the change to a healthier lifestyle
· A Parenting Program based on recent trials which showed good results in supporting parents of overweight and obese children
· Establishment of an Obesity Prevention Research Centre as a world-class centre of excellence in overweight and obesity research and policy development
· Specialised Medical and Surgical Clinics across NSW to provide multidisciplinary medical programs and bariatric surgery for those who are morbidly obese.

The Get Healthy Advice Line is the first of its kind to be implemented statewide in Australia.

"There's no doubt that behavioural change can be very difficult and this advice line means people won't have to do it on their own," Ms Meagher said.

"It's based on the very successful Quitline which has helped thousands of smokers quit the habit and start leading healthier lives.

"The advice line will provide one-off information and advice about healthy eating and physical activity, but people will also be able to sign up for a free coaching program with follow-up calls and individually-tailored counselling to help them on their way to better health."

Ms Meagher said the NSW Health Obesity Strategy includes programs aimed at helping people avoid becoming overweight and obese, but it also recognises that more needs to be done to help those who are already overweight or obese.

"Obesity levels across NSW have soared in the past decade and are now at record levels, with more than half of all adults and a quarter of all children overweight or obese," Ms Meagher said.

"Those figures are alarming - and unless we do something to address the rising number of overweight and obese people living in NSW we will see significantly higher levels of chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

"Over the past few years the Iemma Government has introduced a range of obesity prevention programs aimed at encouraging children to lead healthier lives and avoid becoming overweight
"This comprehensive statewide strategy builds on those programs to provide support and treatment for people who are already overweight or obese."

"Reducing the level of obesity in the community is a clear priority of the Iemma Government, with State Plan targets to hold childhood obesity to the 2004 level of 25 per cent by 2010 and to reduce it to 22 per cent by 2016," Ms Meagher said.

"Surgical intervention for obesity is a last resort option that will be provided under specific conditions for morbidly obese people across the state.

"But there is clear evidence that drastic and determined action is needed to turnaround the obesity epidemic which is costing NSW around $7 billion a year, and this strategy provides the framework for us to work toward that goal."

Components of the NSW Health Obesity Strategy

Social marketing campaign
· Commencing in August with the When it comes to thirst, drink water first campaign highlighting the high sugar content of sweetened drinks including cordial, fruit juices and soft drink and promotes the importance of water consumption as a healthy alternative.
· This campaign builds on the healthy eating messages of the Go for 2 and 5 fruit and vegetable campaign which aired earlier this year.
· This campaign will be followed by a longer-term social marketing campaign aimed at adults.

NSW Get Healthy Advice Line
· Based on the successful Quitline for smokers, this help line will be the first of its kind to be implemented statewide in Australia.
· The NSW Get Healthy Advice Line will be staffed by trained health professionals such as dietitians, nurses and exercise scientists.
· Callers will be provided with individually tailored information about healthy eating and physical activity as well as the option of taking part in an ongoing 'coaching' program.
· The help line will commence in early 2009.

Parenting Program
· A structured parenting program which includes activities for children and educational programs for parents, with the focus on healthy lifestyle (not weight loss) and a whole-of-family approach.
· The program will be delivered by Area Health Service staff working with parents in their local areas.
· The program is based on evidence from two trials involving parents of 5 to 9 year olds which demonstrated positive results with reduction in children's BMI and waist circumference.
· The trial program lasted 12 weeks, but positive results were found for up to one year after the trial intervention program.

Obesity Prevention Research Centre
· The newly established Centre will operate as a single research centre of excellence to provide NSW Health and other government agencies with up-to-date evidence about obesity prevention.
· The Centre will be based at the University of Sydney and will also lead and support key intervention research activities across the state.

Obesity Medical and Surgical Clinics
· Medical clinics will be established over the next four years in all eight Area Health Services and the Children's Hospital at Westmead, with surgical clinics operating in six Area Health Services by 2011-12.
· The first clinic will be operating in the Sydney South West Area Health Service by the end of 2008.
· The clinics will provide a multidisciplinary approach, staffed by specialist physicians including endocrinologists, diabetes nurses, psychologists and physiotherapists.
· People will be referred to the clinics by a doctor and will only be considered for bariatric surgery after assessment and approval by the multidisciplinary team and an endocrinologist and after all medical options have been exhausted.
· Criteria for bariatric surgery includes aged 20 to 55 years; BMI greater than 35 with a co-morbidity of type 2 diabetes; absence of other serious medical illness; absences of acute psychiatric condition or drug dependency; unsuccessful medical weight loss attempts; and assessed as fit for surgery.

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