BRISBANE will bypass the State Government and seek federal funding to fight obesity.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman is spearheading a campaign by Australia's capital cities to combat the national epidemic.
With 62 per cent of men and 45 per cent of women now overweight or obese, the capitals are seeking direct Commonwealth funding to run preventable community-based health programs, which would also target drug addiction, health research and childhood diseases.
"I know the Federal Government is concerned about the costs of administering programs through the states," Cr Newman said.
"A lot of money does go into administration, and we are offering the opportunity through these programs to very efficiently get money out there on the ground."
In its submission to a federal health inquiry, the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors argues that capital cities are the Commonwealth's "logical partner" to provide preventative community health programs.
"One of the focus areas is on addressing the main causes of preventable disease including poor nutrition and physical activity," it said.
In Queensland, there are an estimated 650,000 adults and 25,000 children aged five to 17 who are obese or overweight.
Federal Labor health spokeswoman Julia Gillard said local governments had a vital role in tackling obesity.
"If we are going to deal with something as complicated as obesity, we have to involve all levels of government," she said.
"We are committed to having a national obesity campaign in the first term of a (Kim) Beazley Labor government and I would certainly envisage having a direct federal-local government link."
A spokeswoman for Health Minister Tony Abbott said there were no current plans to get the capital cities more involved.
Brisbane City Council already runs several health-related schemes, including a $582,000 immunisation service and several programs designed to get residents more active.
Research released at the weekend suggests Australians are so concerned about pain they are not doing enough physical exercise to stay healthy.
Up to 60 per cent of Australians admit they are not getting two and a half hours of moderate exercise a week, as recommended by the federal health department.
Obesity in Australia
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