- Two thirds of Australian adults are living with overweight or obesity – Australia's second leading contributing factor for ill health and death after tobacco use, and 8.4% of Australia's total disease burden.1,2
- Overweight and obesity is associated with 30 non-communicable diseases and without action it is estimated to cost $87.7 billion by 2032.3
- A new White Paper launched to the Australian Government this week urges prioritised access to publicly funded anti-obesity medications and other evidence-based therapies, and to recognise obesity as a chronic condition that requires long-term multi-disciplinary medical care.
15 August 2024, Sydney: A new White Paper, Reframing Weight Management: Evolving the narrative around anti-obesity medications and prioritising care was launched at Parliament House.
Developed in consultation with Australian clinicians specialising in general practice, obesity, and First Nations community-controlled health organisations, the Paper puts forward three recommendations for the Australian Government to transform care, disrupt disease progression and deliver breakthrough outcomes for people living with obesity:
- Obesity should be a national public health priority with evidence-based treatment options: Recognise obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease, to sharpen the focus on effective, evidence-based medical therapies and allocate funds for medical interventions in line with the National Obesity Strategy.
- Support person-centred conversations in healthcare: Work with stakeholders to destigmatise and empower people living with obesity to actively seek appropriate primary and community care services.
- Fund equitable access to evidence-based interventions for those who need them most: Collaborate with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and other stakeholders to fund and develop multidisciplinary care models and system-wide support.
Dr Kathryn Williams, Endocrinologist, Obesity Specialist and a Leader at the Obesity Collective, says, "If obesity is to be framed as a disease, it might mean that people get treatment and support when they need it. Especially when they have no capacity to pay or if they are living in areas with higher rates of obesity but less access to healthcare services.
"We have good existing strategic documents that tell us what to do in both the prevention and obesity management space. What we really need now is formal accountability to system change and access to treatments. We need all levels of government, healthcare professionals, and industry to be working together to get to the bottom of the issues that we are facing and to start designing collaborative solutions. We need to help people who have severe obesity who need treatment now."
Since the launch of the first Australian comprehensive obesity action report in 1995, coordinated efforts to promote improvements in obesity management have focused heavily on prevention and healthy lifestyle.1 Though lifestyle interventions alone – dietary and behavioural intervention, physical activity – haven't significantly improved the health or quality of life for people living with obesity, and Australia's obesity rates have continued to rise.4
Over 15 million Australians are living with overweight or obesity, with 2 in 3 adults and 1 in 4 children impacted.5 It is associated with at least 30 non-communicable diseases – including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal conditions, type 2 diabetes, dementia, asthma and chronic kidney disease – and contributes to approximately 8.4% of Australia's total disease burden.1,2
Obesity is Australia's leading modifiable risk factor for ill health and death, after tobacco use.2 The economic cost of obesity is projected to reach an estimated $65.8 billion by 2030.6
The latest generation of anti-obesity medications have the potential to revolutionise outcomes for people living with obesity and overweight in Australia.7 Five medicines for obesity treatment are currently registered in Australia.8 However, to date, none of the approved medicines have been listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for overweight and obesity management.9 The successful integration of these medications into obesity management requires robust support systems for primary care services and equitable access to ensure the best long-term outcomes for people living with overweight and obesity.
Dr Georgia Rigas, General Practitioner specialising in obesity and metabolic health and an Advisor at The Obesity Collective, says, "Research we conducted showed that there is almost a nine-year delay from when people living with obesity first start to be impacted by their disease, and when they had an initial consult with their doctor about this. During this time, many of these people will progress to even more severe stages of obesity and they could develop health complications of obesity, some of which are irreversible. For many this is due to weight bias and discrimination, which is pervasive in our society, including amongst healthcare providers and policy makers. This results in delayed presentations often with more severe disease and inadequate healthcare provision. We need to accept a shared responsibility, and importantly, collaborate to change this.
"Primary care providers need to be adequately supported with ongoing education and upskilling in regard to identifying specific at-risk patients. However, we also need clear, bi-directional treatment pathways between primary and secondary care in managing these patients, via a shared-care model.
"However, the most common barrier to the effective treatment of obesity is inequity of access to obesity disease-modifying medications and metabolic bariatric surgery. I sincerely hope that today will be the trigger to drive meaningful and effective change- a commitment to resource allocation and other strategies identified by the National Obesity Strategy 2022, to help the nine million Australian adults currently living with obesity."
Sandra D'Souza, a person with lived experience, says, "Being overweight affected every aspect of my life. I felt trapped in a cycle of guilt and frustration, believing my inability to maintain a healthy weight was my fault. Society's stigma surrounding obesity only made these feelings worse.
"With a multi-disciplinary approach, combining medical treatment with a structured program of healthy eating and exercise, the transformation for me was incredible. My journey highlighted significant gaps in the current approach to weight management. There's an urgent need to shift the blame from individuals and recognise the shared responsibility in addressing obesity. Policymakers must understand that effective weight management requires a collaborative effort involving healthcare providers, communities, and individuals."
Tori Brown, General Manager, Lilly Australia and New Zealand, says, "In order to meet the increasing challenges of overweight and obesity, we need better commitment to embracing long-term multi-disciplinary person-centred care. Australians deserve access to comprehensive care including medical, lifestyle and surgical support. This includes a new generation of anti-obesity medications that can play an important role in improving quality of life and reducing complications for people with obesity, as well as reducing mortality and associated costs.
"Lack of consideration around the complexity of obesity in health policy and healthcare systems will continue to exacerbate the risks and rates of this disease, especially socio-economically disadvantaged populations or those living in rural and remote regions. We are dedicated to working with key stakeholders on solutions to ensure equitable access to comprehensive evidence-based obesity care."
"Reframing weight management: Evolving the narrative around anti-obesity medications and prioritising care" is a Lilly-commissioned White Paper developed by the life sciences consultancy firm Biointelect, in consultation with independent specialists in general practice, obesity, and First Nations community-controlled health organisations.
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