A new report lists Australia as the country with the highest percentage of obesity per capita in the world. The report, “Australia’s Future Fat Bomb”, found that 26% of Australians are obese. This is higher than the 25% of Americans who are obese. This represents 4 million obese Australians, up by 1 million in the 9 years since the last report of this kind. If Australians who are overweight, but not obese, are also counted, the number more than doubles to 9 million.
If you might be thinking this is mainly women, think again. For middle-aged Australians, men are more likely to be overweight 72% compared to 58% of women who are overweight or obese. Nor is it just a few kilos overweight. The definition of obesity is a Body Mass Index of more than 30. Body Mass Index is calculated on the basis of an individual’s height and weight and is a key indicator of overall fitness and health. Wonder what your BMI is? A free BMI calculator is available here.
The report states that this is not just an individual problem, but an epidemic which must be addressed if we are to avoid serious health consequences in the future. Considering this number represents more than one in four Australians, it is likely that everyone will be affected by this epidemic. Try thinking of 3 people you know, if you are not obese, chances are that one of them is. Obesity’s health effects are likely to have a major impact in your life, if not immediately, within your lifetime. Obese parents are more likely to have obese children, causing a repeating cycle through the next generations. This is not something most parents would like to pass on to their children.
The report’s author, Professor Simon Stewart, head of preventative cardiology at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne says “Obesity is a key risk factor and major contributor to some of Australia’s most important health problems. This includes cardiovascular disease (CVD), its common precursor Type 2 diabetes and a variety of cancers. As such, it represents one of our most important targets for disease prevention. Indeed, obesity was recently named a National Health Priority at the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference.”
But the good news is that there are some simple things we can do to reduce our waistlines and our health risks. The report recommends losing weight sensibly, by the “5 in 5″ method. We should aim to lose 5 kilos in 5 months. Quick weight loss is damaging, and likely to increase our risk of rebound weight gain, but 5 kilos in 5 months is not only achievable, it would have a significant impact on weight-related diseases.
The report states that weight loss can be achieved by eating less or exercising, but for optimal effect, do both. Here are some tips directly from the report:
- Adopt a diet that incorporates a wide variety of foods (such as vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereals (pasta, rice, bread), fish, sea foods, and olive oil)
- Drink plenty of water rather than calorific drinks (e.g. soft drinks)
- Limit the amount of saturated fat intake
- Choose food low in salt
- Limit alcohol intake
- Consume only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars
- Eat according to your energy needs
- Limit portion sizes to sensible eating plan, especially if starting an exercise program
The full report is available for download here.
Remember, this is not just an individual problem, it is a community problem. It is vital we all support and encourage healthy eating and exercise, both for this generation and to give the next generation the best chance for a healthy life.
If you would like to discuss your weight management with a Psychologist, please feel free to contact us on
info@clearwatercentre.com.au
