How Australia Can Address the Rising Epidemic of Childhood Obesity

Since the 1990s, the proportion of the world’s population who are overweight (with a body mass index of 25–30) or obese (with a body mass index of 30 or above) has doubled.

It’s Not Just About Health Problems Later in Life

Living with obesity increases the likelihood of living with disability and dying at a young age.

How Did We Get Here?

Obesity is often blamed on the individual child, parent, or family. However, the rapidly changing patterns of obesity throughout the world reinforce the importance of viewing it as a society-level problem.

The drivers of the obesity epidemic are complex. A country’s increasing obesity rates often overlap with their increasing economic development. Economic development encourages high growth and consumption. As local farming and food supply systems become overtaken by “big-food” companies, populations transition to high-calorie diets.

Can We Fix This Problem?

The steepest increase in the proportion of young people with obesity is expected to be in the coming years. This means there is an opportunity to address this public health issue through bold actions now.

Some young people with severe obesity should be provided access to funded, stigma-free team-based weight-management healthcare. This may include:

• access to GPs and nurses for lifestyle advice about diet and exercise
• anti-obesity medications such as semaglutide
• weight-loss surgery

Change the Systems, Not the People

Success will be greatest if policies change multiple parts of the environmental systems that young people live in, including schools, food systems, transport systems, and built environments. These changes will also reach older adolescents whose rate of obesity continues to increase.

Address the Commercial Determinants of Obesity

Strategies could include:

* Coupling changes to the built environment and urban planning with initiatives to increase green space, footpaths, and walkability.
* Implementing policies to reduce the marketing and advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages to children.
* Implementing taxes on sugary drinks and other unhealthy products.
* Improving the nutritional quality of school meals and snacks.
* Providing access to healthy and affordable food options in disadvantaged areas.

Conclusion

Governments should commit to an immediate five-year action plan to ensure we don’t fail another generation of children and adolescents. It is crucial to address the commercial determinants of obesity and change the systems that contribute to its rise. By working together, we can create a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the current state of childhood obesity in Australia?

A: According to our research, by 2050, 2.2 million Australian children and adolescents will be living with obesity, and a further 1.6 million will be overweight. This is a combined prevalence of 50%, and an increase of 146% between 1990 and 2050.

Q: What are the drivers of the obesity epidemic?

A: The drivers of the obesity epidemic are complex and include economic development, changes in food systems, and environmental factors.

Q: How can we address childhood obesity?

A: To address childhood obesity, we need to change the systems that contribute to its rise. This includes addressing the commercial determinants of obesity, such as the marketing and advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages to children, and implementing policies to reduce the availability and affordability of unhealthy foods and beverages. We also need to provide access to healthy and affordable food options, improve the nutritional quality of school meals and snacks, and provide access to weight-management healthcare for young people with severe obesity.