Australia’s $14 billion inactivity crisis prompts renewed AUSactive call for Federal Government-led preventative health campaign

AUSactive is calling on the Federal Government to ‘Walk the Talk’ by introducing a preventive health campaign and, in accord with its own policy, to increase preventative health funding from 2% to 5% of the $124 billion health budget to address Australia’s $14.1 billion annual physical inactivity crisis.

The move follows the success of this year’s Fit for Office campaign which engaged 37 MPs and 150 parliamentary staff in addressing Australia’s health crisis.

AUSactive highlights data that shows:

• 60% of Australians are overweight or obese.

• Physical inactivity costs $14.1 billion annually and increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and dementia.

• Over 1.75 million Australians are delaying GP visits due to cost.

• Just 15 minutes of daily movement can help prevent type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dementia, cancer, and heart disease (Australia’s #1 killer), boost life expectancy, slash healthcare costs and improve mental health by 22.5%.

• Preventive health investment returns $14 for every $1 spent.

AUSactive Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish (pictured below) believes that a preventive health campaign would action the Federal Government's goals to free up more hospital beds, reduce obesity, curb type 2 diabetes, address mental health concerns, and lower the incidence of chronic diseases, including heart disease, which is the leading cause of ill health in Australia, closely followed by dementia.

Highlighting that regular physical activity can lower the risk of coronary heart disease by 40% and type 2 diabetes by 30-50%, reduce the risk of developing dementia by 30-40% and the risk of death in people with dementia by up to 30%, Elvish stated "the urgency is clear - Australia needs to stop being a nation of spectators and become one of participants.

“Just 15 minutes of movement a day can reverse poor health trends, ease mental strain, and save billions in healthcare costs. The government’s own National Preventive Health Strategy talks about increasing the budget for preventive health from 2% to 5%.

“The total health budget for this year is about $124 billion, but only $2 billion is directed towards preventive health, with the majority of that going to Sport. The government's own Health budget identifies that for every dollar spent in preventive health, has a return of $14.

“Imagine the savings to taxpayers generated by this investment.  a robust preventative health strategy running for five or so years would give the bean counters time to see budget savings flowing through, save lives, improve mental health, and slash billions in healthcare costs.”

Call to Action
AUSactive’s goal is to inspire 15% more Australians to embrace active, healthier lives by 2030.