Overweight and obesity
The proportion of people who are either overweight or obese is increasing worldwide, and despite decreases in the proportion of people who are physically inactive, Australians are also carrying more excess weight.
The World Health Organisation recognises that globally there was -
- a decrease in the physical energy people expend in everyday living over the second half of the 20th century. For example, there is more reliance on motorised transport, and use of labour-saving devices
- changes in the workplace, such as increased use of computers, mean that fewer people now work in physically demanding jobs
- there is increased demand for convenience foods which are higher in fat (especially saturated fat)
- people are also more likely now than in the past to participate in leisure activities which involve little, if any, physical activity, such as watching television.
All of these factors are likely to contribute to the increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese people.
Being overweight or obese is associated with a range of illnesses -
- coronary heart disease
- Type II diabetes
- certain types of cancer
- gallbladder disease
- osteoarthritis and
- high blood pressure.
Results from the 2007/08 National Health Survey (NHS) run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics were released in 2009. For the first time since 1995, this survey measured the exact height and weight of adults and children. Using these measurements to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), the results for 2007/08 were as follows.
Adults (aged 18 years and over)
- there were 6.9 million Australians or 61% of all adults who were overweight or obese
- 37% overweight, and
- 25% obese
- more men (68%) than women (55%) were overweight or obese
- this was an increase since 1995 when 64% of men and 49% of women were overweight or obese
- the highest proportion who were overweight or obese were in the older age groups peaking at 79% of 65-74 year-old men and 68% of 55-64 year-old women
Children (aged 5 to 17 years)
- approximately 600,000 Australian children or 25% of all children who were overweight or obese
- 17% overweight, and
- 8% obese
- more boys (26%) than girls (24%) were overweight or obese although more boys (10%) were obese than girls (6%)
- this was an increase since 1995 when 20% of boys and 21% of girls were overweight or obese
Source: National Health Survey, 2007/08 (ABS Cat. No. 4364.0)
Useful links
Other websites