ANPHA launches first State of Preventive Health report

[box border=”full”]The Australian Government has released the first ever State of Preventive Health report, a comprehensive overview of the current health challenges facing Australians in relation to chronic disease.[/box]

Published by the Australian National Preventive Health Agency, the State of Preventive Health 2013 highlights the substantial leadership and effort that is underway in Australia to reduce the key risk factors for chronic disease, including obesity and physical inactivity, tobacco use and the harmful use of alcohol.

Australia is a world leader in addressing public health challenges and this Report features some of the important work that is underway to combat our nation’s current and growing chronic disease burden.

Importantly the Report highlights some alarming figures, most notably that two out of three adults and one in four children are overweight or obese, and that harmful alcohol consumption is widespread in Australia.

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ANPHA report

Louise Sylvan, CEO of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency says, “Good health is fundamental to Australia’s future social and economic well-being. The Australian Government and state and territory governments continue to work hard to address the behavioural and environmental challenges that have contributed to the rise in chronic diseases.”

“It is the Agency’s hope that this Report will increase community awareness and understanding of Australia’s preventive and health promotion efforts and the ongoing need to support and extend this work,” Ms Sylvan said.

The release of the State of Preventive Health 2013 is coinciding with a national symposium on preventive health at Parliament House Canberra, featuring a keynote speech from the 2013 Australian of the Year, Ita Buttrose.

Download the State of Preventive Health 2013