Small Australian town is model for community campaigns against obesity

doi:10.1136/bmj.a1238

Published 8 August 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a1238
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a1238

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Small Australian town is model for community campaigns against obesity

Ray Moynihan

¹ Melbourne

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The small town of Colac in rural Australia is attracting nationaland international attention for its approach to fighting childhoodobesity, and reducing health inequalities.

Two hours west of Melbourne, with 11 000 inhabitants, Colacis the site of a long term community-wide campaign called BeActive Eat Well, funded by the state government of Victoria.

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Colac, a small Australian town, is attracting national and international attention for its approach to fighting childhood obesity, and reducing health inequalities. Ray Moynihan talks to some of the architects of and participants in the programme

The campaign aims to build the community’s capacity tofight childhood obesity, and its action plan was designed andimplemented by local organisations, including schools; parents;and local health, housing, and government services.

Key strategies include transforming canteen menus, introducingdaily fruit, reducing television watching, and increasing activitiesafter school.

In the first three years of the campaign . . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

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A Model Town?: Rohit PT Narayan, et al.
bmj.com, 16 Aug 2008 [Full text]
Community approach to obesity: John Pemberton
bmj.com, 16 Aug 2008 [Full text]
Beating the bulge: Jason R Beck
bmj.com, 18 Aug 2008 [Full text]
obesity in australian town: John Pemberton
bmj.com, 19 Aug 2008 [Full text]
Victorian Parliament should investigate health issue: Colin F Clarke
bmj.com, 20 Aug 2008 [Full text]