Aust govt must act now on obesity: AMA

Obesity is the biggest public health challenge facing Australia and its prevention must start at the beginning, with pregnant mothers, the Australian Medical Association says.

The AMA has released its revised and updated position statement on obesity, calling on the federal government to show leadership on the serious health threat.

"The AMA recommends that the initial focus of a national obesity strategy should be on children and adolescents, with prevention and early intervention starting with the pregnant mother and the fetus, and continuing through infancy and childhood," the statement says.

Among the AMA's other recommendations are a sugar tax, improved nutritional literacy, and stronger controls on junk food advertising targeted at children.

They would also like subsidies for healthy foods, such as fruit and vegetables, to keep prices low, especially in remote areas, and better town planning to create healthy communities.

More than 60 per cent of Australians adults are overweight or obese and almost 10 per cent are severely obese.

At least a quarter of Australian children and adolescents are overweight or obese.

AMA president Michael Gannon says a whole-of-society strategy - including governments, health and food industries, schools and media - must be co-ordinated at a national level to prevent people from becoming seriously ill as a result of their unhealthy weight.

"Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, musculoskeletal diseases, and impaired social functioning," Dr Gannon said.

A spokesman for Minister for Health Sussan Ley says the Turnbull government is working with the states and territories on a new overarching approach to a range of chronic health conditions, including obesity.

However, the government believes focusing on a range of chronic conditions, not just singling out obesity, is a more effective approach in preventing and managing chronic conditions.

The National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions will soon be considered by the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council and, pending endorsement by COAG Health, will be released in early 2017.

"We welcome the AMA's updated position paper on obesity and it will be a valuable contribution to the finalisation of the national strategic framework for chronic conditions," the spokesman said in a statement on Monday.