WE all agree that obesity is a serious issue for Australia across all ages. It is a headline grabber and we see a range of suggestions to ‘fix’ it being floated on a regular basis.
Obesity is a complex issue, it is not simply solved by eliminating junk food from schools and sporting clubs. There needs to be an holistic solution – one which recognises the multiple factors that come into play. Issues such as education, physical activity, cost and access to nutritious food, lifestyle skills around shopping and cooking healthy food.
We also need to consider the culture of our community. Does it support people who want the more nutritious option? In sporting clubs for example, is water free? It should be! Is a nutritious diet promoted for a better performance on the sport’s field? Can spectators purchase anything but sugar laden sweets, cakes and high fat options? As a community we need to respond to this and be supportive of doing the best we can for our children and our community and that means offering nutritious food options publicly and in our homes.
Years ago we didn’t have this problem as sweets and sugary drinks were something to enjoy on a special occasion. Now they are part of every-day diets, and this is where we’ve gone wrong.
Sugar is a big problem and taxing sugary drinks would be a welcome move. But it should not be seen as the Holy Grail. Just one piece in a large and difficult puzzle that the regional community needs to start thinking about.
Andy Sloane,
Director healthy communities,
Bendigo Health.
