Australian Medical Association

Food provides our bodies with the energy, protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals to live, grow and function properly.  Concerning trends have been observed in the eating habits of many Australians and the implications are serious. The National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) Draft Australian Dietary Guidelines 2011 provides population level guidance on healthy eating patterns and related guidance for health professionals.  

The AMA's Submission highlights that a range of measures is needed to improve nutritional literacy, including education on energy needs and portion sizes, improved food labelling, and affordable access to healthy food options.  The AMA Submission also identifies a need for practical resources aimed at medical practitioners including access to a database of locally available supports such dieticians, healthy cooking classes and walking groups.

An increasing number of Australians are at a high risk of serious disease and premature death because of excess body weight or obesity. The National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) Clinical Guidelines on the Management of Overweight and Obesity is an important resource for medical practitioners who identify and support patients who are overweight and obese.  Medical practitioners also play a preventive role in identifying those patients who are at risk of becoming overweight, particularly children and young people.  

The AMA believes that a key challenge is to ensure that the Clinical Guidelines are practical and easy for medical practitioners to adopt as part of their clinical practice.  The AMA's Submission highlights the key role of medical practitioners in preventing overweight and obesity, particularly among children and young people, as well as providing support to those patients who wish to lose or maintain their current body weight.  The AMA Submission advocates around the development (with appropriate consultation) of practical resources, such as short term eating plans, evidence summaries, multi media videos and fact sheets that can support medical practitioners and patients in this area.

The AMA strongly believes that strong support for health and medical research is necessary to ensure that the best and most efficient health care is available to all Australians. Australia has been falling behind other countries in its funding and strategic long-term commitments to health and medical research. This submission to the McKeon Review outlines how Australia can regain its position as a world leader in health and medical innovation.

The costs associated with lifestyle related disease are increasing, evidence suggests that using financial incentives and disincentives with patients can encourage preventive health behaviours.

The costs associated with lifestyle related disease are increasing. Evidence suggests that using financial incentives and disincentives with patients can encourage preventive health behaviours. This AMA background paper outlines the currently available research on when financial incentives and disincentives are likely to be effective, and when they are not.

In September 2011, the AMA hosted a summit of public health and police stakeholders to consider advice to the Australian Government on reform of alcohol taxation and pricing. A Communique was issued which outlined a consensus view on options for reform.

It is difficult for Australian families to find the right information they need to make healthy choices about the food they consume. This AMA publication outlines the case for a Traffic Light system of labelling on food products to ensure that consumers can easily recognise and compare the healthiness of food products.

It is difficult for Australian families to find the right information they need to make healthy choices about the food they consume. The AMA believes that a system of Traffic Light labelling on food products can provide easy to understand nutritional information for people to make those choices. This AMA paper publication details the evidence for a Traffic Light system of labelling and its advantages compared to alternative approaches.

The AMA President has joined with other public health leaders in urging the government to investigate options for alcohol tax reform, to reduce the potential for excess alcohol use and consequent health problems.

This AMA submission to the House of Representatives Inquiry into the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 supports legislation to remove all attractive, decorative and brand-recognisable packaging on tobacco products.

Medicare Locals have the potential to impact on a wide range of health care services.  The AMA believes they should be introduced in a manner consistent with the AMA's overall health vision and which is respectful of the exisitng role of the General Practitioner and other community based specialists.   This position statement includes details of the AMA position on the governance, functionality, accountability, fundholding and boundaries of Medicare Locals.

Alcohol is a commonly used beverage in Australia, and can be enjoyed in sensible quantities. But alcohol is also a mind altering substance and can have harmful effects, particularly for young people. It is important that people have the right information about alcohol, so they can make the right choices when deciding to drink. This brochure provides the most recent information and research on the short-term and long-term harms associated with alcohol, as well as other risks with drinking. It also provides information on further sources of advice.

Many people make the decision to have a part of their body pierced. Body piercing can have potential health consequences, some of them quite serious. This new brochure in the AMA youth health series, outlines some of the potential health problems of piercing, and provides advice on important questions to ask in order to avoid those problems.

This position statement outlines the measures the AMA considers appropriate for the prevention and treatment of obesity in Australia.

The growing number of Australians at risk of serious chronic diseases from obesity, smoking and excess alcohol use is a major health challenge facing Australia. This AMA Policy Brief, Preventing Obesity, Smoking and Excess Alcohol Use, summarises some key measures that the AMA believes should be given priority in a National Preventative Health Strategy, including support for the preventative role of doctors and implementation of a number of targeted community-level measures.

Excess alcohol use, and the harms it produces, continue to be a  major health problem in Australia. It is crucial that alcohol policy is informed by pertinent and comprehensive evidence. This AMA Information Paper provides up to date information and data on alcohol consumption and harms in Australia.

The AMA has made a submission to the Department of Health and Ageing in response to the report released by DoHA on the outcomes of the Point of Care Testing (PoCT) trial in general practice.

Body image describes how an individual conceptualises his or her physical appearance. The body image a person has results from the interaction between the person’s thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behaviours regarding their own body, and their perception of what counts as the ideal body within their own social and cultural setting. Unhealthy body image can affect men and women, children and the elderly from all backgrounds.

This submission responds to the options for prevention of obesity, smoking and harmful alcohol use that are explored in the National Preventative Health Taskforce discussion paper - Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020. The submission emphasises the crucial role of doctors in providing preventative health care.

This submission discusses guidelines being considered by the NHMRC for low-risk alcohol consumption. The AMA agrees with the 3 draft guidelines, subject to a number of qualifications, which it argues the NHMRC should seriously consider.

In this position statement the AMA notes the protective benefits of physical activity for chronic diseases, and argues that opportunities for physical activity should therefore be enhanced across all sectors of the Australian population.

This position statement notes the centrality of sound nutrition to good health and recommends measures that the government and food industry can take to improve the nutritional opportunities and habits of Australians, particularly children.

This position statement details the harms of tobacco smoking and the measures needed to increase cessation and reduce initiation of tobacco use.

AMA Position Statement: Cervical Cancer Screening - 1999

AMA Position Statment: Breast Cancer Screening - 1998/1999

Youth Health: Fitness

Youth Health: Sex and your health

Youth Health: Smoking

This position statement focuses on the need to adopt a strategic approach to prevention of chronic diseases among Indigenous people, with a particular emphasis on the social context of chronic disease.

This position statement notes the negative health impacts of problem gambling, and among other things, recommends the development of a national strategy to recognise, reduce and prevent problem gambling.