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The life expectancy of children in Australia today could be cut by two years if current levels of obesity and overweight continue, the National Preventative Health Taskforce has warned.

Facts like this underline the urgency and importance of taking preventative action to ensure a healthy future for all Australians.

The National Preventative Health Taskforce has just released a discussion paper to kickstart debate, an important step towards developing a National Preventative Health Strategy.

The Taskforce proposes a number of targets which it says can be achieved by 2020. These are:

• Halt and reverse the rise in overweight and obesity;
• Reduce the prevalence of daily smoking to 9% or less;
• Reduce the prevalence of harmful drinking for all Australians by 30%; and
• Contribute to closing the 17 year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The Taskforce is now accepting public submissions, before delivering its National Preventative Health Strategy to Government in mid-2009.

Federal Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon urged Australians to read the discussion paper, and get involved in the debate, stating "the changes we need will require a concerted effort across the community - involving individuals, governments, industry, media and non-government organisations.

"This is an important debate, with real consequences for Australia's future."

Taskforce Chair, Professor Rob Moodie, agrees, stating "we need to do everything we can to reverse the very worrying trends we're seeing in health. We're very much looking forward to hearing what the community has to say."

Feedback on the discussion paper must be made before Friday 2nd January 2009.

Copies of the National Preventative Health Taskforce discussion paper can be viewed at www.preventativehealth.org.au

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