Nutrition Experts Welcome Preventative Health Taskforce Report, Australia

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 03 Sep 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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Australia's peak nutrition body has welcomed the release of the Government's National Preventative Health Taskforce report - 'Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020', which outlines a series of proposals to improve the health of Australians.

Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) CEO Claire Hewat said the Association hopes the recommendations will help cut rates of obesity and other nutrition-related preventable conditions over time. 'Preventing poor health has been overlooked for too long. Rather than focussing on an 'obesity crisis', we need to tackle poor nutrition and physical inactivity - which are huge risk factors for many diseases that affect Australians, regardless of their weight,' said Ms Hewat. She said the role of good nutrition in improving health and preventing lifestyle diseases is proven beyond doubt, and congratulated the Government for recognising this.

'It's pleasing to see the taskforce recommend a new National Food and Nutrition Framework be developed. For preventative health initiatives to be successful, Australia needs a comprehensive, whole-of government food and nutrition policy to guide this work. 'The last food and nutrition policy came out in 1992, but the health needs of Australians, and the Australian food supply, has changed dramatically since that time,' said Ms Hewat. DAA called on the Government to commit funds to implementing the taskforce recommendations. Ms Hewat said: 'There have been a number of useful strategies to address nutrition and obesity over the last decade, but a common feature of all is a lack of money to implement them - and that is really disappointing.' She said DAA would welcome the opportunity to work closely with the Government in implementing the report's recommendations. DAA represents members with expertise in weight loss and the nutritional needs of Australians - from infancy to the elderly, and from a range of demographic backgrounds.

In responding to the report, DAA:

- Applauded the call to improve access to services that provide advice and support on weight loss and healthy eating. DAA said the Government needs to make it easier for Australians to consult Accredited Practising Dietitians - while at the same time better regulating potentially harmful, unproven weight loss programs.

- Welcomed tighter government regulation of food and drink marketing to children. The Association said regulation in this area should allow the promotion of appropriate foods and healthy eating habits that will hopefully stick for life.

- Suggested taxing foods and drinks may work, but that subsidising healthy foods may be more effective in improving healthy eating among all Australians. DAA said some people would continue to spend money on unhealthy food - even with taxation in place - and this could mean they will have less to spend on healthy foods.

- Supported the Government's focus on continuing to 'close the gap' between Indigenous and non- Indigenous health. DAA said improving nutrition among disadvantaged Australians should be a Government priority as this would have the greatest impact on reducing Australia's 'burden of disease'.

Source
The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)

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