AMA (NSW) President: weighing patients is just like taking their blood pressure

AMA (NSW) supports the NSW Government’s efforts to normalise weighing children and measuring their height when they come in contact with the health system.

“AMA (NSW) continues to be supportive of the Premier’s priority to reduce the rates of childhood obesity in the state.

“Given that obesity rates are where they are, it’s important that we normalise keeping track of kids’ development in this way.

“This is not about shaming children or their parents – this is about the prevention of health problems.

“In this way, weighing someone and determining their BMI is just like taking someone’s blood pressure.

“Most kids won’t need specialist weight loss clinics and, in any event, access to these sorts of services is currently quite limited.

“However, if this prompts more people to see their GP for advice on improving their health, this would be a good outcome,” AMA (NSW) President, Prof Brad Frankum, said.

“I am very happy with the steps the NSW Government is taking on obesity and I would like to see the Federal Government step up and implement its own strategy.

“AMA (NSW) is also a proponent of a sugar tax and this is something we would like to see the Commonwealth consider, instead of rejecting out of hand.

“Australians consume too much sugar in their diets and this is a large contributor to the obesity crisis.

“A sugar tax would play an educational role in highlighting unhealthy foods.

“If implemented, money raised from the sugar tax could be used to fund government strategies to lower Australia’s obesity rate,” Prof Frankum said.

Media contact: Lachlan Jones 0419 402 955