Tag: obesity
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This stuff is killing us
We’re calling on the next Australian Government to take sustained steps to ensure fewer people get sick, including acting on obesity. Find out more on PHAA’s 2025 Election Priorities site. This is part of an ongoing series explaining our 2025 Federal Election asks. Read the other articles in the series here.…
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Toward a comprehensive approach to obesity
Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, Clare Hughes, Anita Dessaix, Associate Professor Kate McBride, Jasmine Lykissas There is an urgent need for public health action on obesity, and a current window of policy opportunity for nationally coordinated advocacy. This urgent need for action reflects the persistently high levels of obesity among Australian…
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It’s time to talk seriously about preventing obesity
Lily Pratt and Professor Caroline Miller Obesity is a major driver of the rising diabetes rates in Australia, and is responsible for over 55% of the total disease burden of type 2 diabetes. Around two thirds of Australians currently live with overweight or obesity; further exacerbating existing inequities. Earlier this…
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Food Ministers urged to prioritise health over industry interests
Damian Maganja, Veronica Le Nevez, Andrea Schmidtke and Sally Witchalls Walk into any supermarket and you will be accosted by shelf upon shelf of unhealthy foods, from soft drinks that contain up to 14 teaspoons of sugar to whole aisles of confectionery, chips and biscuits. Even foods we might think…
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Diabetes and obesity rise to top of national agenda
Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, PHAA Last night, Dr Mike Freelander, paediatrician and member for the south western Sydney seat of Macarthur, handed down the House of Representatives Health Committees Report on “The state of Diabetes Mellitus in Australia 2024”. The Report shows that five per cent of the population live…
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Next gen of researchers in early childhood health pave the way for cross-discipline collaboration
EPOCH-Connect In early childhood health promotion, collaboration is essential to break down disciplinary silos and create systemic change. Bringing together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and families allows for innovative research and the translation of findings into tangible, real-world impact. Collaborative and impactful research requires skills beyond those taught in research training…
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Public health experts brief Agriculture Committee on food security
Lily Pratt, PHAA Policy Officer On 2 June the Australian Parliament’s Standing Committee on Agriculture held their first (and so far, only) health-specific hearing regarding their inquiry into and report on strengthening and safeguarding food security. PHAA was invited to attend after completing our submission in December 2022. We joined…
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Independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps’ bid to address Australia’s childhood obesity levels
Danielle Gavanescu, PHAA Intern and Master of Public Health student Independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps has announced the development of a Private Member’s Bill that will restrict junk food marketing to children in a bid to curb Australia’s growing obesity epidemic. Dr Sophie Scamps calls for ban on junk food…
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PHAA and SBS-TV recognise the work of ‘Too Deadly for Diabetes’ creator, Ray Kelly
Jeremy Lasek – PHAA One of the great strengths of the PHAA’s annual awards is to uncover great stories of public health best practice at work and making a big difference to people’s lives. Ray Kelly was Highly Commended in the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Public Health Award for…
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The future for preventive health in Australia
In 2018, with our focus turned to the 2019 federal election, the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) launched the “Top Ten successes in Public Health in the past 20 years”. Even before seeing our list, most audiences can pick five to seven of the ten items on it, so…