With more than half the Australian population either overweight or obese, Australia is in the grip of a global epidemic, which has significant cardiovascular health, social and economic consequences. Although awareness of body image is at an all-time high, it seems that people are becoming less and less willing to lose weight and to take steps to increase their overall health. The decision to lose weight sensibly can only benefit physical and mental health.
People who are overweight or obese are at an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure and type 2 diabetes. Many of the deaths attributable to excess weight are due to chronic diseases.
In 1996 (the most recent data), this included about 2,300 deaths from coronary heart disease, 1,400 deaths from type 2 diabetes, 500 deaths from high blood pressure and 427 deaths from ischaemic stroke.
Obesity is responsible for an estimated 4.5 per cent of the total burden of disease in Australia.
Overweight and obesity statistics
In 1999-2000:
- 60% of adult Australians aged 25 years and over were overweight or obese:
- Around 39% of adult Australians (aged 25 and over) were overweight; and
- Around 21% of adult Australians (aged 25 and over) were obese.
- Between 1980 and 1999 - 2000, the proportion of men aged 25-64 years who were obese rose from 9% to 17%. In the same period, the obesity rate among women of this age range more than doubled, from 8% to 20%.
- Weight increased significantly both for men and women between 1983 and 1995. For men, mean weight increased by 5.2 kg and for women by 6.9 kg. These increases occurred in the absence of a significant increase in mean height for men and only a small increase for women (0.8cm).
- Body mass index increased significantly between 1983 and 1995 for both men and women. For men the increase was 1.7 units and for women 2.5 units with the result that both mean and median Body Mass Index (BMI) were above 25 for men and women in 1995.
- Obese people (BMI 30 or over) were more likely than those of healthy weight to be sedentary or participate in very low levels of physical activity (34.8% versus 30.4% for men, and 38.2% compared with 30.2% for women).
The number of Australians aged 55 years and over classified as obese is now approaching one million:
- This number has trebled over the past 20 years, due to the combined effect of an ageing population and the obesity epidemic.
- These Australians are about 6 to 7 kg heavier on average than their counterparts were 20 years ago.
This information has been provided by the
Heart Foundation
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