1 November 2013 - OBESITY

OBESITY

G'day folks,

Here are some interesting, but disturbing facts about obesity in Australia. However, I'm sure the same facts and figures relate closely to other Western nations. 

Obesity and Overweight

The number of Australians who are obese has reached "staggering" numbers according to a key government report. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Reform Council has released its fourth report on the National Healthcare Agreement.

It shows that in 2011-12, 63 per cent of Australians were either overweight or obese - that has increased 2 per cent in the past four years - with 35 per cent of people overweight and 28 per cent obese. The report says seven in every 10 men and more than half of all women are above their healthy body weight.

It has warned governments that more needs to be done to tackle obesity and recommends that federal, state and territory leaders note "the lack of progress" toward reaching a 5 per cent boost to the number of Australians at a healthy body weight by 2018.

Health problems related to excess weight impose substantial economic burdens on individuals, families and communities. Data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study indicate that the total direct cost for overweight and obesity in 2005 was $21 billion ($6.5 billion for overweight and $14.5 billion for obesity). The same study estimated indirect costs of $35.6 billion per year, resulting in an overall total annual cost of $56.6 billion (Colagiuri et al. 2010).

 Childhood Obesity

Between 1985 and 1995 the rate of childhood overweight doubled and obesity tripled in Australia. Unfortunately, overweight and obesity in Australia remains on the rise. Results from the 2007-2008 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey indicated that one in four children aged 5-17 years are now overweight or obese¹.

Increasing rates of overweight and obesity among children and adults is a worldwide health issue and the World Health Organisation has established an International Obesity Taskforce to implement strategies to help combat the problem.

Obesity can cause physical, social and emotional health problems in childhood and adolescence. Weight related health problems in children include:

• stress on the bones and joints, particularly in the hips, legs and ankles
• fatty liver
• snoring and sleep apnoea (stopping breathing while asleep)
• high blood pressure
• high blood fats
• type 2 diabetes
• stigmatisation, low self-esteem
• behaviour problems.

Obese children in Australia have a 25 to 50% chance of becoming obese adults². This chance increases with an increasing degree of overweight and the later into adolescence the excess body weight is carried. It is also increased if one or both parents are overweight or obese.

Overweight and obesity are the result of an imbalance between the energy consumed and the energy expended continually over time.

Surveys indicate that compared with the Australian Dietary Guideline recommendations Australian children are consuming more than the recommended amounts of sugar and saturated fat¹.

There is less survey data about changes in the energy expended, but it is strongly suggested that the energy we burn up has significantly decreased. Australian children are exceeding screen time guidelines (time spent watching television or playing video games) with two thirds of children exceeding the maximum limit of two hours per day³. The increased range of sedentary activities such as television, videos and computer games is often suggested to be a major contributor to the problem. The increased use of cars has also reduced energy use amongst both children and adults.

Some people’s bodies use less energy so they are more prone to becoming overweight or obese.

The body’s rate of energy usage is partly determined by family genetics. Also being undernourished during early infancy, or before birth can affect the way the body uses energy and increases the risk of becoming overweight or obese. However, it is known that an individual’s food and activity habits have the biggest impact on body weight. Small changes in food and physical activity habits can lead to major changes in body weight.

Where to from here?

To turn around the overwhelming trend of increasing childhood overweight and obesity will require actions at all levels of society.

Some areas suggested for change are:

• food manufacturing and processing
• food marketing and advertising
• social and town planning
• public transport and method of travel to school
• food and physical education in schools
• family food and physical activity environment.

What should your family do?

Individuals and families also need to take responsibilities to see this trend halted and then reversed. Start by becoming informed about healthy eating and reasonable levels of physical activity and then encourage friends and family members to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

 The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating can help you plan the quantities of foods needed to balance your energy intake. You can assess your current diet using the Healthy Eating Assessment tool.

Clancy's comment: Everything in moderation, eh?

I'm ...

Think about this!