Obesity in Australia

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Obesity is a priority health issue in Australia, having one of the highest prevalence’s among developed countries, with over 12 million, out of an approximate 23 million, Australians either overweight or obese (Colagiuri et al, 2010; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), 2013; Crockett, 2014). The number of obese Australians has risen significantly over the past 25 years and is continuing to grow (Walls et al, 2012; Hawley, Dunstan & Travis, 2008). The predominance of obesity within Australia can be attributed to lifestyle behaviours and environmental factors, including sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, geographic location and socioeconomic status (Hawley et al, 2008; Australian Bureau of Statistics a, (ABS a), 2011). Obesity is an important health issue in Australia creating a major burden on health-care, society and the government due to financial costs, both direct and indirect, and the incidence of chronic diseases associated with excess weight (Walls et al, 2012; Colagiuri et al, 2010; ABS a, 2013). The threats that the rising rate of obesity is posing on our nation are what is making obesity the principal health issue in Australia at this current point in time.

Current statistics on the dominance of obesity in Australia allow us to see why obesity is the most important health issue in Australia in 2014, and predictions made using current information suggest its importance in years to come. Latest statistics from the AIHW (2013) reveal that approximately three in every five adults and one in five children in Australia are either overweight or obese. A study conducted to predict the progression of obesity prevalence in Australia found that within 5 years, one fifth of people that took part in the study and were ...

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Colagiuri, S., Lee, C.M., Colagiuri, R., Magliano, D., Shaw, J.E., Zimmet, P.Z., &
Caterson, I.D. (2010). The Cost of Overweight and Obesity in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 192(5), 260 – 264

Crockett, J., (2014). HIP100: Social and Cultural Influences on Health: Rural Health
Issues. Retrieved from http://interact.csu.edu.au/portal/site/HIP100_201430_
A_D/page/c5d9a404-56ad-4953-005a-d062582a4123

Fleming, M.L., & Parker, E. (2012) Introduction to Public Health (2nd ed.).
Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier Australia

Hawley, J.A., Dunstan, D.W., & Travis, D.G., (2008). Overweight and Obesity in
Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 188(11), 678 – 679

Walls, H.L., Magliano, D.J., Stevenson, C.E., Backholer, K., Mannan, H.R., & Shaw,
J.E., Peeters, A., (2012). Projected Progression of the Prevalence of Obesity in Australia. Obesity, 20(4), 872 – 878

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