Tasmania has built a reputation as a food lover’s paradise but the reality is some Tasmanians are living in towns and suburbs where healthy food is hard to come by.
“Access to fresh, locally grown fruit and vegetables is challenging for some Tasmanians and it’s impacting on our health,” said Heart Foundation CEO Graeme Lynch.
“Due to fruit and vegetables in these areas being expensive, of poor quality and variety or not even available, packaged or take-away foods laden with saturated fat are, for some, a more convenient and cheaper option.
“This is a particular problem for those on lower incomes where the budget for food is much lower.”
Tasmania Medicare Local the Heart Foundation and the University of Tasmania have joined forces for a three-year project called Healthy Food Access Tasmania.
Tasmania Medicare Local CEO Phil Edmondson said Tasmanians currently have higher rates of overweight and obesity for both children and adults compared to other Australians.
“Poor diet and being overweight are both associated with poor health and wellbeing outcomes and higher rates of chronic diseases and hospitalisation,” he said.
“We often assume that the only way to improve healthy habits is through education, however an environment that supports good health is critical.
“Having a reliable and affordable supply of fruit and vegetables available where people live, work, shop and play helps make healthy food choices the default setting.”
UTAS researcher Sandy Murray said having physical access to healthy food and being able to afford healthy foods are very important determinants of what people eat.
“It is estimated that five to ten percent of Tasmanians say they run out of food or money to buy more,” she said.
“But for some groups in the community, like those relying on Centrelink payments or on low incomes, the percentage is much higher.”
Graeme Lynch said the Heart Foundation will work with communities in 12 priority local government areas to understand the unique local issues that prevent access to healthy food.
The University of Tasmania will collect important information about the price and availability of healthy food using the ‘healthy food basket’ approach. This involves identifying 46 items that constitute a healthy food basket to help people understand if they have access to nutritious food in their local shops.
“Then we will work with businesses, health services, communities, food growers and all levels of government to find local solutions for these communities that are sustainable over the long term,” Mr Lynch said.
“Tasmanians aspire to eat more of the fresh healthy foods produced in their state and there are many small and medium enterprises who would like to see new opportunities to sell their produce locally.
“In some areas and businesses this is already happening but certainly not consistently.
“This project takes a planned approach to supporting healthy eating in local communities which will have benefits beyond the 12 local government areas we’re targeting; there will be lessons from our work for other communities throughout Tasmania and nationwide.”
The Healthy Food Access Tasmania initiative is part of Tasmania Medicare Local’s broader Social Determinants of Health and Health Risk Factors Project, which is funded through the Australian Government’s Tasmanian Health Assistance Package. More information is available online at www.tasmedicarelocal.com.au
Statistics:
Over 65% of Tasmanians are overweight or obese.
Only 14% of Tasmanians eat the recommended five serves or more of vegetables per day.
43% eat the recommended two serves of fruit per day.
For more information on healthy eating go to www.heartfoundation.org.au/healthyeating
Tasmania Medicare Local the Heart Foundation and the University of Tasmania
