TACKLING AUSTRALIA'S OBESITY PROBLEM

AUSTRALIA'S WIDENING GIRTH

* Unhealthy diets now a leading cause of poor health in Australia

* 63pct of adults and 25pct of kids are overweight or obese

* Cost of obesity/overweight estimated at $56bn a year

ROADMAP FOR GOVERNMENTS TO TACKLE OBESITY

* Develop national strategy to improve nutrition among Aussies

* Set up a national obesity taskforce

* Integrate a national nutrition policy linked to frameworks for chronic conditions and a national diabetes strategy

* Tax sugary drinks/junk food to boost prices by 20pct; invest money raised into public health initiatives

* Ban junk food and drink ads appearing on TV and radio before 9pm

* Set national targets to cut salt, fat, added sugar in packaged food and out-of-home meals

* Remove junk food and drink sponsorship ads for major sports

* New policies to promote healthy food choices at canteens, events, fundraisers, vending machines

* Update school canteen guidelines including restrictions on unhealthy food/drinks

* Increase healthy kids menus in fast-food outlets

* Reduce availability of confectionary/soft drinks at supermarket checkouts

* Set national population dietary intake targets, including reducing the proportion of discretionary foods eaten

* Integrate nutrition and cooking skills into the national curriculum for all school years

* Re-establish the Australian National Preventive Health Agency to coordinate health promotion

* Introduce a national approach to regular measuring of children's height and weight in primary and secondary schools

(Source: Food Policy Index report)