The number of obese Australian adults is estimated to be as high
as 3.3 million and the number of overweight but not obese around
5.6 million, according to a bulletin released today by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
And the prevalence of obesity rose alarmingly in only 10 years
over the 1990s-by 71% for men, and 80% for women.
The bulletin, A growing problem: Trends and patterns in
overweight and obesity 1980 to 2001, draws together data from
all relevant national surveys conducted since 1980.
It shows that at least 16% of men and 17% of women aged 18 and
over were obese, with a further 42% of men and 25% of women being
overweight but not obese.
Report co-author Anne-Marie Waters said that these percentages
underestimated the true extent of the problem because they were
based on self-reported height and weight data.
'We know that people tend to overestimate their height, and
underestimate their weight', Ms Waters said.
'The raw self-reported figure shows 2.4 million Aussies as
obese, but we estimate that the actual figure is 3.3 million.'
'This estimate is backed up by survey data based on measured
height and weight, which show an 80% increase in prevalence of
obesity in men aged 25-64 years in just over two decades (the 1980s
and 90s), and a 150% increase for women.'
The AIHW bulletin also gives trends in abdominal obesity between
1989 and 2001, as measured by waist circumference. It shows similar
sharp rises in the prevalence of abdominal obesity over the 12
years (50% rise in male prevalence, 75% rise in female prevalence).
Excess weight accumulated in the abdominal region is a good
indicator of increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as
diabetes and coronary heart disease.
The AIHW's Medical Adviser, Dr Paul Magnus, said that
Australians should be concerned at the magnitude and speed of the
rises in overweight and obesity in recent years, because of their
significant health, social and economic impacts.
'But there is enormous scope to reverse the trend through
environmental and lifestyle changes that enable and encourage
increased physical activity and a healthier diet', Dr Magnus
said.
'In terms of obesity and overweight we are now at the point
where the USA was in 1995. Their self-reported obesity prevalence
is now 21% compared to our 16%. We shouldn't allow ourselves to go
down the same path'.
12 September 2003
Further information: Dr Paul Magnus, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1149 or 0407 915 851
Anne-Marie Waters, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1102 or 0412 212 791
Media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for details.