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Obesity report ignores children: expert
Children have been forgotten in the plans outlined by a national obesity report
released last night, an RMIT University childhood obesity expert has warned.
Associate Professor Jeff Walkley said the House of Representatives health and
ageing committee’s report largely ignored young people.
“What’s missing from this report are targeted programs that hit every child in every
school – such as mandatory physical education or health classes,” Associate
Professor Walkley says.
“They’ve missed this opportunity to actually bring exercise and healthy eating
programs into the curriculum.
“The few programs mentioned are voluntary and after-school, relying on the
initiative of families who choose to become involved, meaning they can only have
limited impact. They’ve forgotten the children – it’s staggering.
“The Federal Government until this year required that kids should get 120 minutes
of physical activity each week while at school, but that’s gone, while health and
physical education is yet to be included in the National Curriculum.
“Is this how we should treat our kids?”
Associate Professor Walkley, who leads RMIT’s successful Choose Health
research program for overweight teenagers, said a key recommendation in the
report – taxpayer-funded lap band surgery – posed serious risks.
“Gastric band surgery is a good option for morbidly obese people who have tried
everything else and are simply unable to lose weight,” he said.
“But you can’t just have a surgical solution to a behavioural problem. This kind of
surgery must come with intensive support to help people change their behaviour,
eat better food and increase their level of activity.
“If we do offer free gastric band surgery to morbidly obese Australians, we can
predict that there will be great pressure in future for this surgery to also be funded
for people who are only obese, or overweight.
“Surgery doesn’t just come with the risk of serious complications, it does not
address the behavioural issues that are at the heart of weight problems. Lap-band
surgery must only be the last resort, strictly limited to morbidly obese adults – not
just anyone who is struggling with their weight.”
For interviews: RMIT University’s Associate Professor Jeff Walkley, (03) 9925
7359 or 0407 345 525.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Media and Communications,
Gosia Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
2 June, 2009
NEWS 
