Western Australians can look forward to being the biggest winners, as a new plan aims to make WA the State with the highest percentage population with a healthy weight by 2029.
The roadmap for this ambitious target is set out in the WA Healthy Weight Action Plan 2019-2024, released this week by State Minister for Health, Roger Cook.
He noted the need for collaboration across the health sector and the community to bring about positive and sustained change, provide support to people who are overweight or obese and reduce preventable health issues.”
WA Primary Health Alliance CEO, Learne Durrington said, as a partner in the State Obesity Collaborative, alongside the Department of Health WA and the Health Consumers’ Council, the organisation was developing multi-faceted and community wide approaches to addressing overweight and obesity.
“Primary care has a significant role to play in implementing this plan, and we are working towards measures which support GPs and their practice teams to leverage their unique position in talking to patients about weight management.
“The real significance of overweight and obesity is its impact on people’s long term physical and mental health, leading as it can often do to chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, social isolation and depression.
“Among the 1,000 or so stakeholders who contributed to the Healthy Weight Action Plan, the courage and determination of the community members who shared their lived experience stands out. They should be very proud of their contribution to our State’s future health and wellbeing,” Ms Durrington said.
WA Primary Health Alliance is helping to shape, strengthen and sustain the health system to make it work for people and health professionals by developing:
- A central repository which referrers can easily access to inform their choice of effective, evidence-based interventions
- Resources, tools and education for GPs and their practice teams to leverage their unique position in talking to patients about weight management
- Supporting patients with targeted evidence-based programs and services
- Support to strengthen general practice teams, enabling holistic, patient-centred care in weight management
Watch our CEO speaking with Minister Cook on obesity:
Find out more on how we see GPs as being on the front line of Australia’s fight against obesity.