In this month’s Better Health, Together video, WA Primary Health Alliance CEO, Learne Durrington sits down with Pip Brennan, Executive Director of the Health Consumers’ Council and the Hon Roger Cook MLA, Deputy Premier, Minister for Health and Mental Health to talk about our partnership in developing the WA Healthy Weight Action Plan 2019-2024.
Read the WA Healthy Weight Action Plan.
Part 1 – Overweight and obesity, and how it’s impacting our state
Part 2 – What’s being done to tackle overweight and obesity?
Part 3 – Why are GPs so important in helping us deal with overweight and obesity?
Watch the full video
The Action Plan, currently in implementation, provides detail on the sustainable changes planned to support people and families who are at-risk of overweight (those at the high end of the healthy weight body mass index range) and those with overweight and obesity.
The Action Plan also emphasises the unique position GPs have in identifying overweight and obesity when interacting with their patients. GPs can be an effective avenue to improve health literacy, implement interventions and increase motivation to lose weight. We are working with GPs to support them in having conversations around overweight and obesity and providing them with access to up to date clinical and referral information via the HealthPathways WA website.
Key facts on overweight and obesity in Western Australia
- Currently 67 per cent of WA adults and 25 per cent of children are overweight or obese.
- These figures are projected to rise to 79 per cent and 30 per cent respectively over the next five years.
- Being overweight or obese puts an individual at increased risk of chronic health conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Mental health can also be impacted, in particular people may experience low self-esteem, eating disorders, negative body image, social isolation and depression.