Turning the tide on childhood obesity: a call for urgent action
A new study published in The Lancet has projected a troubling future: by 2050, a third of children worldwide will be living with overweight or obesity.
The study, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and published in The Lancet, found a third of children and adolescents will be overweight (385 million) or obese (360 million) within the next 25 years. The forecast equates to 356 million children aged 5–14 years and 390 million aged 15–24 years with one in six facing obesity.
The issue is particularly concerning in Queensland, where two in three adults and one in four children live with overweight or obesity.
‘These conditions are among the leading risk factors for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, which are major contributors to premature death and disability in Australia,’ said Dr Robyn Littlewood, Chief Executive Officer, Health and Wellbeing Queensland.
‘As the state’s prevention agency, Health and Wellbeing Queensland is committed to addressing the impacts of chronic disease, particularly for those experiencing poor health due to circumstances beyond their control.’
Recognising the urgency of the crisis, Health and Wellbeing Queensland has taken proactive steps to combat childhood obesity through a series of targeted initiatives:
- Making Healthy Happen – The Queensland Government’s strategic response to the National Obesity Strategy, ensuring a comprehensive approach to tackling obesity.
- Pick of the Crop – A healthy eating initiative aimed at improving children’s dietary habits, with a focus on increasing vegetable intake.
- Podsquad – An innovative play-based app designed to engage families in building healthy habits related to nutrition, physical activity, and sleep. To date, over 17,000 families have participated.
- Major investments in prevention – Over the past three years, more than $68 million has been invested in prevention programs across the state, including Deadly Choices and My Health for Life, both of which support long-term healthy lifestyle changes.
‘By fostering healthier food environments, promoting physical activity, and prioritising prevention programs, we can turn the tide on childhood obesity and safeguard the wellbeing of future generations,’ Dr Littlewood said.
‘While Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s initiatives are making a measurable impact, coordinated collaboration across the public and private sectors, community engagement, and sustained investment will be essential to reversing this trend,’ Dr Littlewood said.
‘Our goal is to change systems to prevent, reduce and treat obesity with the aim that fewer Queenslanders’ health and wellbeing is impacted by overweight and obesity.
‘Health and Wellbeing Queensland is here to make healthy happen for everyone, no matter where they live.’
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