Outcomes sought
- Improved regular tracking of height and weight status in the community as well as monitoring of knowledge, attitudes, intentions, behaviours and other indicators relating to healthy eating and active living.
- Increased understanding of the determinants and consequences of obesity and the effectiveness of potential interventions.
- Improved understanding and regular monitoring of the environment regarding its influence and impact on active living and healthy eating related behaviours.
2004 Actions
Health sector leadership:
- Scope and develop specifications for national nutrition and physical activity monitoring and surveillance systems, including culturally appropriate Indigenous components.
- Design a comprehensive, regular, coordinated monitoring system for height and weight status (particularly of young people) and a series of validated indicators of key behaviours and environments related to healthy eating and active living.
- Establish benchmarks and strategic tracking indicators for best practice and monitor performance across the strategies.
- Begin to implement continuous progress reporting across all the Healthy Weight 2008 strategies through a performance management cycle.
- Conduct strategic and policy research to inform decision-making, and fast track the sharing and application of new research evidence Australia-wide.
- Consider the value and validity of setting measurable targets when baseline measures are available.
Collaboration across sectors:
- Undertake health impact assessments of new policies likely to impact on healthy weight.