Tackling obesity head-on
The Australian Government has announced a new ministerial taskforce to tackle the nation's rising obesity rates.
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19 July 2006
ABB108/06
The Commonwealth Government today announced a new ministerial taskforce to tackle rising obesity rates.
The taskforce will coordinate the anti-obesity campaign involving government, industry and community.
The taskforce will include the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan; the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop; the Minister for Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, as well as the Secretaries of these departments. I will chair the taskforce.
Community ‘ambassadors’ from all walks of life, including high-profile athletes, will be engaged to promote healthier living, particularly among young people.
The Government will also conduct a series of surveys to determine what Australians are eating and their levels of physical activity, beginning with children. This will inform preventive activities to reduce the incidence of obesity as well as chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
As well, a new ‘healthy weight’ web site launched today will provide practical online advice on how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Clear and accessible information through a variety of policies, programs and publications will help Australians make healthy life choices. Helping consumers make informed choices about their lifestyle, particularly about the food they eat, is an important role for industry as well as government. The Government wants to support, motivate and educate Australians to build a healthy, active life, not to regulate or ban.
The healthy weight web site is at http://www.healthyactive.gov.au/healthyweight
For more information call Mr Abbott's office on ph 02 6277 7220
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