The AMAQ says whichever party wins government must prioritise fighting obesity in the state. Photo: Supplied
Queensland’s obesity crisis should be declared a state of emergency, according to doctors.
The Australian Medical Association Queensland released its election wish list on Thursday, with tackling obesity rated above alcohol abuse, end-of-life care and hospital technology.
AMAQ president Shaun Rudd said eight out of 10 Queenslanders would be too fat for their own good within five years.
“This is disastrous for the health system – like a slow moving flood or smouldering bushfire.” Dr Rudd said.
“It’s crunch time for the next Queensland government. We have to stem the obesity tide now, before it swamps our hospitals.”
The AMAQ’s key recommendations include banning fast-food outlets from opening within one kilometre of new schools, subsidising fruit and vegetables for at-risk communities, tax deductions for bikes and gyms and a mandatory star rating on food packaging.
“It’s no secret that Queensland has the shameful title of Fat Capital of Australia and we pay the price for that with bad health,” Dr Rudd said.
“Being too fat, drunk and violent puts an enormous burden on our communities and our health care system but it doesn’t have to be that way.”
According to the 2014 Health of Queenslanders report, 1.2 million adults and 146,000 children were overweight.
Diabetes Queensland CEO Michelle Trute said obesity cost the Queensland economy more than $11 billion each year.
“People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes which means they put a greater strain on our health system. This is clearly unsustainable,” she said.
“Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed in almost 60 per cent of cases so it is clear that addressing obesity, one of the leading risk factors for type 2 diabetes, will help reduce the personal and economic costs.”
The AMAQ has also taken aim at alcohol abuse, saying more needed to be done to combat its devastating effects in the home and in small communities.
It’s recommended banning nightclubs from offering energy drinks mixed with alcohol after 10pm and banning alcohol sponsorship of sporting events, junior sports programs and youth music festivals.
Doctors also want whichever party wins government to invest more money in end-of-life care, allowing more Queenslanders to die at home.
The AMAQ cited a recent Palliative Care Australia survey that showed while 74 per cent of Australians wanted to die at home, only about 16 per cent do so. 20 per cent die in hospices and 10 per cent in nursing homes – the rest die in hospitals.