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 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!
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