Overweight and obesity in Australia is reaching epidemic proportions.

We are now one of the fattest nations in the developed world with the prevalence of obesity more than doubling in the last 20 years.[1]

The most recent statistics from Obesity Australia indicate that 63 per cent of our country is overweight or obese, with 28 per cent obese. According to their 2014 report, No Time to Weight, obesity is a major health and societal factor for the Australian population. [2]

Unfortunately, things are likely to get worse with projections seeing around 70% of Australians being overweight or obese, by 2025, with around a third of the Australian adult population falling into the obese category.

Personal cost

It is well documented that carrying too much weight is dangerous for your health. While obesity is not a disease, it does contribute to the development of other diseases. [3]

Health problems and consequences of being overweight include:

• cardiovascular disease such as hypertension (high blood pressure)
• coronary artery disease and stroke
• obstructive sleep apnoea
• insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
• non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• cancer
• osteoarthritis
• cognitive impairment
• mood and anxiety disorders, including depression, negative body image and poor self-esteem.

If the thought of developing the above diseases isn’t enough to shock you, what about dying early?

Obesity Australia states that 40-year old obese women who don’t smoke will lose around 7.1 years of life, while obese male non-smokers will die 5.8 years earlier than expected. This is compared with their normal weight counterparts. [4]

The financial cost

As well as costing people years and quality of life, obesity is costing our country billions every year.

Estimating the financial cost of obesity is complicated. However, 2008 figures from Obesity Australia puts Australia’s total obesity cost at $58.2 billion per year. [5]

Costs relating to obesity include loss of productivity, carer’s costs, health system costs, and wellbeing. The total financial and lost wellbeing costs broken down by obesity-related diseases are as follows:

Cardiovascular disease

• Financial cost $2.8 billion
• Lost wellbeing $31.8 billion
• TOTAL $34.6 billion

Cancer                                       

• Financial cost $695 million
• Lost wellbeing $9.0 billion
• TOTAL $9.7 billion

Type 2 Diabetes                    

• Financial cost $3.0 billion
• Lost wellbeing $5.3
• TOTAL $8.3 billion

Osteoarthritis                        

• Financial cost$1.8 billion
• Lost wellbeing $3.8 billion
• TOTAL $5.7 billion

That’s an awful lot of money to spend on disease!

The future

There is no doubt Australia is at a crossroads.

If the rate of obesity continues to grow at the projected rate, it’s fair to say the financial and wellbeing costs will also grow — to overwhelming proportions.

However, by taking steps to lose the excess fat, improve health and wellbeing, we as a nation can turn the statistics around. Not only can we save billions of dollars, we can improve our quality of life, and our life expectancy.

If you feel you need to take control of your weight and health, speak to your health care practitioners and consider joining your local fitness studio and/or take some personal training sessions.

References

[1] Modi, Monash University, Obesity in Australia, last updated 6 August 2013; accessed 24 June 2015 http://www.modi.monash.edu.au/obesity-facts-figures/obesity-in-australia/

[2] Obesity Australia, No Time to Weight. Obesity: A National Epidemic and Its Impact on Australia, published 27 March 2014; accessed 23 June 2015, http://www.obesityaustralia.org/resources-1/no-time-to-weight

[3] Ibid pp18-19

[4] Ibid p 20

[5] Ibid pp26-27