Queensland first state to respond to National Obesity Strategy 2022-2032

Obesity prevalence across Australia has seen the Queensland Government launch its ‘Making Healthy Happen 2032’ response – making it the first state or territory plan in Australia to adopt the three ambitions of the National Obesity Strategy 2022-2032.

Queensland’s strategy was developed and will be delivered by the state’s prevention agency Health and Wellbeing Queensland, in partnership with 10 other Queensland Government departments, industry and community.

Implementation of the Making Healthy Happen 2024-2026 Action Plan (the Action Plan), the first of three action plans that will bring this approach to life, has already started led by Health and Wellbeing Queensland. 

The Strategy and action plans will help accelerate existing initiatives and deliver flagship programs. The primary focus of these action plans will be on changing the systems and environments that hold obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity in place.   

Despite Queenslanders’ effort to prioritise their health, they often face challenges and environments that encourages unhealthy eating and insufficient levels of physical activity.  

HWQld Chief Executive Dr Robyn Littlewood said the Strategy and its initial Action Plan was Queensland’s strongest commitment in decades to enhance health and wellbeing across the state and create better long-term health. 

Dr Littlewood notes “This is a critical milestone for the Queensland Government and marks a significant step forward in our collective efforts to undo the harmful systems that make it hard for all Queenslanders to be healthy.

“Research underscores the urgency of these efforts, including that without action, children born this decade would live a shorter life than their parents, due to obesity.   

“This Strategy is the critical foundation of the generational change required to protect the future health of Queenslanders and ease the burden on our state’s world-class health system.”

Making Healthy Happen 2032 includes an immediate action plan with 40 trackable actions across 11 government agencies that will focus on:   

• Supporting national reform initiatives to make processed food and drinks healthier

• Establishing healthy food and drink strategies in healthcare, schools, sport and recreational facilities, and workplaces

• Delivering targeted family, youth and school-based activities to promote positive food culture and support the development of healthy habits

• Helping Queenslanders learn more about staying healthy through continuous, evidence-based behaviour change campaigns

• Implementing a simplified process for referral to prevention programs and resources  

QLD Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman shared “we know that a balance of physical active and healthy eating is key to living a happy and healthy life.

“Our Making Healthy Happen 2032 is the plan we need to address obesity and protect the future health of all Queenslanders and our state’s health system.

“This response will bring together government, community, and industry to improve health and wellbeing across the state.

Further information:

According to the National Health Survey 2022, less than a third of Queenslanders are living with a healthy weight (28.3%). About a third of Queensland adults (34.6%) are living with obesity, which is slightly higher than the national rate of obesity (31.7%).

Nationally, more than 1 in 4 children are living with overweight or obesity (27.7%). Children who are living with overweight or obesity are 80% more likely to maintain an unhealthy weight into adulthood.

Research commissioned by Health and Wellbeing Queensland found life expectancy for children born in the decade from 2023 could drop by up to 4.1 years in the general population if nothing is done to reverse obesity rates. First Nations children could lose up to 5.1 years, potentially widening the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Indigenous Queenslanders.

The ill-health consequences of obesity and overweight have been estimated to cost the Queensland health system $756 million per year.