Obesity initiatives not enough: AMA

July 20, 2006 01:59am

FEDERAL Government initiatives to tackle obesity are not hard-hitting enough, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) says. Health Minister Tony Abbott today announced a new ministerial task force, including himself and Education Minister Julie Bishop, that will coordinate an anti-obesity campaign involving industry and the community.

It will include a $3 million survey to determine what young Australians are eating plus their current levels of physical activity, as well as extending the existing program of community ambassadors for healthy living and establishing a healthy weight website.

AMA President Mukesh Haikerwal said the announcements represented a wasted opportunity.

"None of these initiatives are as hard-hitting as they need to be," Dr Haikerwal said.

"This is simply a big, fat, wasted opportunity."

Dr Haikerwal said while the task force was important, it needed to be task-oriented to prevent it becoming "just another talk-fest".

"Hopefully the inclusion on that task force of the Communications Minister (Helen Coonan) indicates it will consider bans on advertising junk food to children," he said.

Dr Haikerwal also said accepting funds for the survey from the Australian Food and Grocery Council raised concerns regarding the impartiality of the survey and its results.