Eat Well Australia: Developing a national strategic framework for public health nutrition.

In Australia, diet-related disease ranks alongside tobacco-related disease as the most important preventable health area, accounting for at least 10% of the total burden of disease. A population approach to improve the nutrition of all Australians is a vital contribution to the nation's overall health and well-being, yet action has often been ineffective, uncoordinated and poorly resourced. Through the National Public Health Partnership's nutrition group, SIGNAL, an ambitious work program has been commenced to address this situation. This includes the development of a national framework for action in public health nutrition 2000-2010. Following extensive consultation with health groups and the food industry, the strategy, Eat Well Australia, is now in a late stage of development. Key priorities have been agreed and focus on: (i) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; (ii) vulnerable groups; (iii) maternal and child health; (iv) overweight and obesity; and (v) fruit, vegetables and legumes. Eat Well Australia should provide a new pathway for more concerted and integrated action from a wide range of organizations and interest groups. As a core component, SIGNAL has also developed an action plan to promote comsumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes, which should mobilize responses at local, regional and national levels. Close cooperation between the food industry and the governmental and non-governmental sectors will be vital for success. A partnership platform is needed with clearly defined directions, operating principles and roles and responsibilities. Encouragingly, new and energetic alliances are now developing, which will be supported by Eat Well Australia.