Public Health Research & Practice publishes special issue on obesity in partnership with HSCU

_{12 OCTOBER, 2022}

In Australia, 2 out of 3 adults and 1 in 4 children are living with overweight or obesity, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

HSCU researchers are working hard to find ways to address obesity in Australia, which comes with a high cost to healthcare services, the economy and community wellbeing.

A special issue of Public Health Research & Practice journal focused on reframing the obesity narrative is published today, containing numerous papers led by or with contributions from HSCU authors:

• Dr Alex Chung et al. look at the commercial determinants of unhealthy diets
• Dr Briony Hill, Professor Helen Skouteris, Melissa Savaglio et al. write about the key challenges and solutions for maternal obesity prevention
• Dr Briony Hill contributes to a call to action on weight stigma in Australia
• Kostas Hatzikiriakidis looks at obesity for people living with disability, as part of a paper on inequities in obesity in Australia
• Professor Helen Skouteris contributes to an In practice paper on policies and healthcare that support preconception planning and weight management
• Dr Michelle Gooey et al. identify challenges and ways forward for health service approaches to providing care for people who seek treatment for obesity.
• Dr Michelle Gooey and Professor Skouteris are also Guest Editors for the issue, together with Professor Louise Baur and Dr Zuleika Arashiro. The editorial calls for action and leadership to bring about change, including creating environments that support health; promoting cross-sectoral action; pursuing collective action without stigma and ensuring accountability and tangible action.

This special issue of the Sax Institute peer-reviewed journal is produced in partnership with HSCU, with support from VicHealth, and can be viewed at phrp.com.au.

It is being published in the lead up to the International Congress on Obesity (ICO), which will be held in Melbourne from 18-22 October 2022. A workshop and panel discussion on the special issue will be held at ICO on Saturday 22 October.