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Response to the consultation on the draft National Obesity Prevention Strategy

Published 3 November 2021

Women’s Health Victoria (WHV) welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback to the draft National Obesity Prevention Strategy in November 2021.

In our survey submission, Women’s Health Victoria provided feedback on the draft Strategy’s target, objectives, ambitions and enablers. WHV supports the strategy’s proposed aim to support all Australians to have a healthy lifestyle. We recommend that this is framed using a weight-inclusive framework that emphasises health and healthy behaviours as opposed to weight. This aligns with the evidence and the previous consultation paper which states that ‘the strategy will support all Australians to have a healthy lifestyle, regardless of weight’.

When promoting healthy activities, it is important to take a gendered approach. The causes, impacts and barriers to good health differ for males and females and therefore strategies need to consider the specific needs of women and girls.  We are still disappointed to see an overall focus on weight rather than health in this draft Strategy. Focusing on body size rather than healthy behaviours increases weight stigma, which leads to poor health outcomes. A gap in this strategy is the lack of attention paid to eating disorders. Any strategy that focuses on diet and body size must align with existing eating disorder prevention strategies and include measures to prevent eating disorders and body dissatisfaction.

Note: This submission was originally made as a response to an online survey.

More information about the consultation can be found here.

Citation:

Women's Health Victoria (2021) Response to the draft National Obesity Prevention Strategy. Women's Health Victoria. Melbourne.

Australia Consultations Health Promotion Obesity
Response to the consultation on the draft National Obesity Prevention Strategy

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Acknowledgement of Country

Women’s Health Victoria acknowledges and pays our respects to the Traditional Owners of the land that our offices are situated on, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

As a statewide organisation, we also acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands and water across Victoria. We pay our respects to them, their cultures and their Elders past and present.

Read more about our Reconciliation Action Plan

Our Commitment to Gender Diversity and Inclusion

Women’s Health Victoria’s focus is women (cis and trans inclusive) and gender-diverse people. We address feminist health issues and are committed to supporting all people impacted by gender inequity who can benefit from our work. As a proud intersectional feminist organisation, Women’s Health Victoria is working towards meaningful inclusivity, guided by and supporting people who identify as women, trans, intersex and gender diverse.

Read about our commitment