Recommendation 1
2.25 The committee recommends
that Commonwealth funding for overweight and obesity prevention efforts and
treatment programs should be contingent on the appropriate use of language to
avoid stigma and blame in all aspects of public health campaigns, program
design and delivery.
Recommendation 2
2.26 The committee recommends
that the Commonwealth Department of Health work with organisations responsible
for training medical and allied health professionals to incorporate modules
specifically aimed at increasing the understanding and awareness of stigma and
blame in medical, psychological and public health interventions of overweight
and obesity.
Recommendation 3
3.27 The committee recommends
the establishment of a National Obesity Taskforce, comprising representatives
across all knowledge sectors from federal, state, and local government, and
alongside stakeholders from the NGO, private sectors and community members. The
Taskforce should sit within the Commonwealth Department of Health and be
responsible for all aspects of government policy direction, implementation and
the management of funding.
Recommendation 4
3.28 The committee
recommends that the newly established National Obesity Taskforce develop a National
Obesity Strategy, in consultation with all key stakeholders across government,
the NGO and private sectors.
Recommendation 5
3.29 The committee
recommends that the Australian Dietary Guidelines are updated every five years.
Recommendation 6
4.98 The committee
recommends the Minister for Rural Health promote to the Australia and New
Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation the adoption of the following
changes to the current Health Star Rating system:
- The Health Star Rating Calculator be modified to address
inconsistencies in the calculation of ratings in relation to:
-
foods high in sugar, sodium and saturated fat;
-
the current treatment of added sugar;
-
the current treatment of fruit juices;
-
the current treatment of unprocessed fruit and vegetables; and
-
the 'as prepared' rules.
- Representatives of the food and beverage industry sectors may be
consulted for technical advice but no longer sit on the HSR Calculator
Technical Advisory Group.
-
The Health Star Rating system be made mandatory by 2020.
Recommendation 7
4.100 The committee
recommends Food Standards Australia New Zealand undertake a review of voluntary
front-of-pack labelling schemes to ensure they are fit-for-purpose and
adequately represent the nutritional value of foods and beverages.
Recommendation 8
4.102 The committee
recommends the Minister for Rural Health promote to the Australia and New
Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation the adoption of mandatory
labelling of added sugar on packaged foods and drinks.
Recommendation 9
4.104 The committee
recommends that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council
work with the Department of Health to develop a nutritional information label
for fast food menus with the goal of achieving national consistency and making
it mandatory in all jurisdictions.
Recommendation 10
6.32 The committee
recommends the Australian Government introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened
beverages, with the objectives of reducing consumption, improving public health
and accelerating the reformulation of products.
Recommendation 11
7.44 The committee
recommends that, as part of the 2019 annual review of the Commercial Television
Industry Code of Practice, Free TV Australia introduce restrictions on
discretionary food and drink advertising on free-to-air television until
9.00pm.
Recommendation 12
7.45 The committee
recommends that the Australian Government consider introducing legislation to
restrict discretionary food and drink advertising on free-to-air television
until 9.00pm if these restrictions are not voluntary introduced by Free TV
Australia by 2020.
Recommendation 13
7.47 The committee
recommends the Australian Government make mandatory the display of the Health
Star Rating for food and beverage products advertised on all forms of media.
Recommendation 14
8.22 The committee recommends
the proposed National Obesity Taskforce is funded to develop and oversee the
implementation of a range of National Education Campaigns with different
sectors of the Australian community. Educational campaigns will be context
dependent and aimed at supporting individuals, families and communities to
build on cultural practices and improve nutrition literacy and behaviours
around diet, physical activity and well-being.
Recommendation 15
9.37 The committee
recommends that the National Obesity Taskforce, when established, form a
sub-committee directly responsible for the development and management of a
National Childhood Obesity Strategy.
Recommendation 16
9.71 The committee
recommends the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) consider adding
obesity to the list of medical conditions eligible for the Chronic Disease
Management scheme.
Recommendation 17
9.75 The committee recommends
the Australian Medical Association, the Royal Australian College of General
Practitioners and other college of professional bodies educate their members
about the benefits of bariatric surgical interventions for some patients.
Recommendation 18
10.34 The committee recommends
the proposed National Obesity Taskforce commission evaluations informed by
multiple methods of past and current multi-strategy prevention programs with
the view of designing future programs.
Recommendation 19
10.35 The committee recommends
the proposed National Obesity Taskforce is funded to develop and oversee the
implementation of multi-strategy, community based prevention programs in
partnership with communities.
Recommendation 20
10.36 The committee recommends
the proposed National Obesity Taskforce develop a National Physical Activity
Strategy.
Recommendation 21
10.38 The committee
recommends the proposed National Obesity Taskforce is funded to develop and
oversee culturally appropriate prevention and intervention programs for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Recommendation 22
10.39 The committee
recommends the Commonwealth develop additional initiatives and incentives aimed
at increasing access, affordability and consumption of fresh foods in remote
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
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