Australia Should Be Looking At Prevention Approaches Rather Than Treatment When It Comes To Obesity

Nice title, stupid implementation.

"A CQUniversity Professor of Physical Activity and Population Health says Australia should be looking at prevention approaches rather than treatment when it comes to obesity.

Professor Kerry Mummery acknowledges the burden that obesity is currently placing on individuals and on the health care system, but calls for more support in prevention, rather than treatment programs.

The Inquiry into Obesity in Australia - is investigating the long-term implications of obesity on the health system...

At the Brisbane public hearing yesterday (October 1) Doctor Linda Selvey from Queensland Health told the inquiry that Medicare rebates should be made available for accredited weight control programs.

'By recognising obesity as a chronic condition in its own right, rather than just a risk factor for chronic conditions, then that potentially opens up a number of existing Medicare items for people with chronic diseases,' she said. (Source: ABC)"

Obesity and overweight are not diseases. Weight control programs are doomed to fail with complete certainty for all practical purposes.

"Professor Mummery said: 'Obesity is a tremendous problem in all age groups and both genders. [See Central Queensland statistics below] Medicare rebates for accredited weight control programs are only a small step in the fight against obesity'. (sic)

'More resources are required across a range of health, education and recreation groups to strengthen the preventive, rather than the treatment approach to this problem'."

The need is for fewer resources thrown at a problem that is not the least bit related to the resources applied to it.

When people experience the wonders of overfatness/obesity/overweight without the promise of rescue, behavior will change.

Or, at the very least, the otherwise wasted resources can be applied to areas where they might make a difference.

Mummery should keep mum.