Queensland Wins Obesity Action Award

MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed until 6.00am SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER

QUEENSLAND WINS OBESITY ACTION AWARD

The Queensland Government was awarded for getting `off the couch' and taking
action to help curb Australia's obesity crisis at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the
Australian New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS) in Melbourne yesterday.

The ANZOS `Gold Medal Award' was presented to Queensland for the second
consecutive year at the `National Couch Potato Awards'. The national ranking was
developed by ANZOS to recognise the best and worst performing state or territory in
relation to obesity prevention activities. The award is given on the basis of rating and
comparing progress across a range of obesity prevention priorities.

Monash University public health researcher, Dr Anna Peeters, said the awards
recognise the level of priority states place in tackling the obesity crisis.

"The Queensland government has consistently placed issues related to obesity
prevention high on its agenda and has set an example for other State and Territory
governments. Premier Anna Bligh has led the State in a move to make healthy foods
and activity more affordable and accessible.

Queensland won the coveted award due to its work to remove unhealthy foods in
public places through such developments as the `Supportive Environments for
Physical Activity and Healthy Eating' local government resource, and the evaluation
of its `Better Choice' initiatives" said Dr Peeters.

However, the Society sounded a warning that despite Queensland and South
Australia taking the lead around protecting children from junk food advertising on
television little progress had been made since the release last year of discussion
papers and consultations on the issue. "Government regulation in this area has
strong support with more than 88% of Australians in favour of banning junk food
advertising when children are watching TV," said Dr Peeters.

"SA, ranking 2nd, closely followed Queensland's lead by introducing a range of new
policies and programs aimed at obesity prevention. In 2009 SA introduced the
ground breaking Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle Program (OPAL), and
implemented a range of obesity nutrition, water and activity strategies in schools. A
weight management program for overweight children, PEACH, was also highly
commended.



"In third place was WA, maintaining a spot in the top 3 from last year. WA scored
well with excellent social marketing campaigns and a commitment to provide healthy
food in public places.

Victoria dropped into the bottom 3 as it failed to introduce any new initiatives to tackle
obesity. Victoria failed to develop policies to restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods
and reaffirmed its relationship with a fast food chain - to be included in the new state
Children's Hospital.

The Northern Territory narrowly missed being bottom on the list again due to the
approval of the NT Canteen, Nutrition and Eating Policy in schools.

The worst performer was New South Wales, which was awarded the `Couch Potato
Award'. NSW finished last due to the lack of a government-wide strategic approach,
which was reflected in the lack of substantive initiatives in obesity prevention,
including policy, over the last year," said Dr Peeters.

How each State and Territory measured up

The criteria checklist requires states and territories to allocate points over a number
of categories including law reform, public education campaigns, as well as initiatives
in monitoring and evaluation. These are assessed by the ANZOS Public Health Sub
Committee which collates the responses from experts in each state and territory and
assigns the awards.

1. Gold Medal Award - Queensland
2. SA
3. WA
4. Tas
5. ACT
6. Victoria
7. NT
8. Couch Potato Award - NSW



ENDS

Media contact:

Dr Tim Gill
Executive Officer, Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society
0401710946