Fitness Australia's submission to the Preventative Health Taskforce over a year ago may well have got some legs if this week's media is anything to go by. Fitness Australia is actively seeking to position the fitness industry as a major component in the battle against obesity and disease.

You may have already seen some of the coverage on the publication of the House of Representatives Health and Ageing Committee's report on obesity. The headlines focus on proposals to increase public funding for bariatric surgery and on calls for reductions in the salt, sugar and fat content of foods, but the report also asks government to consider making gyms and other physical activity programs more affordable - potentially through tax subsidies.

The specific recommendations are to:

• investigate the use of tax incentives to improve the affordability of fresh, healthy food and access to physical activity programs for all Australians, particularly those living in rural and remote areas.
• encourage private and public employers to adopt programs and incentives that will promote active and healthy lifestyle choices by all Australians within the workplace.  

In addition, the Committee has recommended that obesity be placed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule as a chronic disease requiring an individual management plan.

You can read the full report and some of this week's press coverage for information via the following links.

Click here to view the House of Representatives Health and Ageing Full Report Weighing it up: Obesity in Australia

Media Reports:
Taxpayers to fund obesity surgery
Shape up over fat, sugar and salt content, Canberra tells food industry