Health professionals are encouraging Tasmanians to educate themselves about the dangers of eating too much sugar and processed food.
About 250 health professionals from around the state’s north, including doctors and nutritionists, gathered in Launceston for the Nutrition for Life annual forum.
Launceston orthopaedic surgeon Gery Fettke said the forum looked at encouraging the community to focus on preventing problems like diabetes and obesity, rather than treatment.
“We’re the sickest or second sickest state in Australia, we’re having a race to the bottom in comparison with the Northern Territory,” he said.
“From my aspect, diabetes is out of control here in northern Tasmania, along with obesity and obesity-related issues.”
Dr Fettke said individuals needed to inform themselves and share their knowledge with their friends.
“Once you start cutting back on sugar and processed food, you hear tales of people losing weight and feeling better, a wide variety of improvements, not just in big health issues, but things like your complexion, your mood, your sleep patterns.”
The World Health Organisation recommends adults limit their sugar intake to six teaspoons per day for the best health benefits.