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Doctors' groups call for sugar tax to tackle obesity in Australia

Friday, 11 Nov 2016 03:27:18 | Sophie Scott

There are calls for consumers to rethink their choices on sugar-sweetened beverages. (Reuters: Aly Song)

Sugar-sweetened drinks should be taxed and obesity renamed a chronic disease, according to a coalition of Australia's most influential doctors' groups.

The Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges, representing bodies including the Royal Australian College of GPs, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, has developed a six-point obesity action plan to tackle what it calls the most pressing public health issue.

Professor Nick Talley, head of the Committee of the Presidents of Medical Colleges, said urgent definitive action was needed.

"We need leadership, not just telling people to lose weight," he said.

"With smoking and tobacco control, we took risks and it had a dramatic effect."

He said obesity was a "real disease, not simply a lifestyle choice".

The group's six point plan includes:

  • Reclassifying obesity as a chronic disease
  • Introducing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages
  • Advocating for better options for treating obesity including more cost effective medications and better access to bariatric surgery
  • Targeted training for all medical and health professionals to ensure a focus on nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention and management
  • Promoting physical activity and better lifestyle behaviours
  • Actively encouraging Australians to monitor their weight

Medical groups said they would lead by example by encouraging medical colleges, hospitals, universities and health services to offer healthier food choices to staff and limiting access to sugar-sweetened beverages.

Royal Australian College of GPs president Dr Bastian Seidel said the medical profession needed to lead the way on healthy eating.

"We need to live by the advice that we are giving to our patients," he said.

Sugary drink tax can save lives: UN health agency

The World Health Organisation has urged countries to tax sugary drinks, saying it can lower consumption of sugars, reduce obesity and tooth decay.

Quiz: How much sugar is in our food?


We're supposed to limit our sugar to six teaspoons a day, but do you know how much of it is hiding in some of our most popular groceries?

Dr Douglas Bettcher, who heads WHO's department for preventing non-communicable diseases, said if governments taxed products like sugary drinks, they could reduce suffering and save lives.

Sydney obesity physician Dr Georgia Rigas said many doctors felt they were failing overweight and obese patients, as it was difficult to get access to effective treatments.

"There are three medications approved for obesity, but none are on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Why is that?" she said.

She said only 12 per cent of weight loss surgery was carried out in public hospitals in Australia.

"We are falling short because for some patients, diet and lifestyle measures alone are not effective," she said.

The health groups also vowed to endorse the national obesity prevention strategy, which includes encouraging physical activity, better access to fresh foods and including obesity prevention in environmental planning.

'We can make a difference': medical experts

Obesity is fast becoming Australia's biggest health challenge.

A tax shouldn't be the reason you quit sugar


Take it from a former addict, there are plenty of reasons to cut sugar out of your diet that have nothing to do with finance.

In 2014-15, an estimated 11.2 million adults or around two thirds of the population were overweight or obese.

One million or one in four children aged five to 17 were overweight or obese.

Professor Andrew Wilson, director of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy at the University of Sydney, said Australia could act to slow obesity rates.

"It is critical that we do something to overcome the inaction on obesity," he said.

He said regulatory action, tax measures and education were the key elements to successfully tackling challenges such as obesity.

The Australia Medical Association supports many of the measures outlined by the coalition of health groups.

The Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges will urge Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Health Minister Sussan Ley to adopt the plan.

AustraliaPlus


 

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