Govt alone cannot solve obesity crisis
Email Print Normal font Large font November 24, 2006 - 11:29PM
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AdvertisementPrime Minister John Howard says his government will build on the success of previous public health campaigns on smoking and AIDS to tackle Australia's obesity epidemic.
But reducing the nation's waistlines is partly a question of "individual self-discipline" and passing laws alone will not solve the problem, he added.
Mr Howard has told the Heart Research Institute Awards in Sydney of his pride in earlier government campaigns to cut smoking rates, raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, and boost immunisation rates.
"We appear to be struggling as a nation with the challenge of obesity," he said.
"It is something that has come upon us with alarming speed and something that's affecting all age groups.
"The reasons for it I think are obvious - the lack of exercise and bad diet for many people."
But despite this "clear and obvious explanation" of what causes obesity, Australia has so far failed to respond "effectively and willingly" to the problem, Mr Howard said.
The prime minister said he hoped the "support and recognition" extended to previous public health campaigns would "spill over" to publicity about how to beat obesity.
"The government can do a lot, but I do hope the community doesn't see obesity as a problem that can simply be solved by government regulation," Mr Howard said.
"I'm not attracted to heavy-handed prohibitions on advertising ...
"I think it would be a mistake if the whole public debate about obesity revolved around the government being required to pass this or that new law, or bringing down this or that additional regulation."
In his speech Mr Howard acknowledged there were "a lot of weaknesses" in Australia's health system but said it compared favourably to other systems around the world.
"We do have a fundamentally very good health system. It has got a lot of weaknesses, and you can criticise aspects of it," he said.
"But I frequently say when I talk about the Australian health system that if you are a traveller it's better to get ill in Bankstown than in Brixton (in London) or The Bronx (in New York)."
The event was held to recognise recent groundbreaking scientific research into cardiovascular disease - Australia's biggest killer - carried out at the Heart Research Institute.
Among projects rewarded was work by Dr Bronwyn Brown explaining why people with diabetes have an increased risk of developing heart disease.
"High sugar levels in diabetes will make your bad cholesterol worse and lead to more fat in your arteries," Dr Brown said.
"We found that certain chemical compounds stop these sugar reactions and the consequent fat build-up."
Another researcher, cardiologist Dr Colin Tso, discovered that adult stem cells repair damaged arteries and are extra potent in the presence of good cholesterol.
The annual awards dinner, sponsored by vitamin producer Blackmores, has raised more than $1 million for the Heart Research Institute in the past ten years.
During the dinner, one of the prizes in a fundraising raffle was the chance to join Mr Howard for one of his famous early morning walks.
Obesity in Australia
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