Obesity rates increase rapidly across Australia: report

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-10-24 14:24:30

Overweight and obesity rates are increasing rapidly across Australia, according to a new National Health Performance Authority (NHPA) report released on Thursday.

The report showed that the proportion of obese or overweight adults rose from 44 percent in 1989 to 63 percent in 2011-12.

Figures released by the NHPA indicated 10.8 million Australian adults were either overweight or obese in 201112, and of these 4. 7 million were obese.

The NHPA report shows the rate of obese or overweight adults is as high as 79 percent in some areas of Australia.

"Across all local areas, Western NSW (New South Wales) had the highest rate, with almost eight in 10 adults being overweight or obese (79 percent) compared to five in 10 adults (49 percent) in Eastern Sydney," it said.

Overweight or obesity levels increased with geographic remoteness and lower socioeconomic status, but 54 percent of adults in the wealthiest urban areas were overweight or obese, and 19 percent were obese.

NHPA Chief Executive Officer Diane Watson says rates of adult obesity have been increased rapidly over the past decade across Australia and their impact on health and economy can be extremely serious.

"Using our local-level analysis, clinicians and health managers can now better target and drive health system improvements specific to their local community's needs," Watson said in a statement.

Posted in: Asia-Pacific, Biology

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