South Australia has made significant improvements in addressing unhealthy diets, according to a report released today.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the Deakin University Healthy Food Environment Policy Index 2019 Progress Update highlights the State's focus on prevention, health promotion and policies to tackle major contributors to disease.
"Obesity and unhealthy diets are leading contributors to poor health so it's pleasing to see signs of improvement," Minister Wade said.
"South Australia received a relatively low score in the first report in 2017, but this update confirms that positive changes are being made that will have an impact on health outcomes.
"The report commends a number of our initiatives to improve public health, including the Marshall Liberal Government's commitment to establish Wellbeing SA as a health prevention and promotion agency, and our Healthy Towns Challenge grants, which provide regional towns with up to $50,000 to develop preventive health programs.
"The report also acknowledges the release of the State Public Health Plan 2019-24, which encourages and assists local councils to focus on healthy food environments across the state."
SA Health's Director of Prevention and Population Health Branch, Professor Katina D'Onise, said that the improvement seen in the report can be linked to a number of initiatives.
"Significant progress has been made in developing partnerships across government and the community to work together on improving nutrition and healthy living programs," Prof D'Onise said.
"We are working with the Department for Education to better support good nutrition for children through programs and school canteens.
"Along with the Department of Human Services, we are developing a set of agreed nutrition guidelines for emergency relief food to better support families in need.
"We are also working alongside the Department of Correctional Services to increase healthy eating options supplied to prisoners and correctional services staff.
"There is more work to be done, but this report highlights some of the inroads we are making towards supporting a healthier food environment for South Australians."
To view the full report, click HERE.
