We're reaching crisis point on the obesity scale

29/05/2014

An alarming report out today reveals most people in OECD countries are now overweight or obese exposing an increasing number of people to chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and several cancers.

As a nation, we are the heaviest we have ever been.

The analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013, led by University of Washington researchers and published in the journal Lancet, found that Australia was one of the fattest nations, jumping almost 40 places to 25th in obesity ranking, just behind the US but well ahead of France, Finland, Germany and Japan.

Of real concern, none of the 183 countries studied showed any sign of success in the past 33 years.

“Overweight and obesity is now one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease in our community and carrying the extra kilos greatly increases your risk of chronic diseases” LiveLighter Nutrition and Physical Activity Manager Steve Pratt said.

Obesity is costing WA public hospitals more than $240 million a year.

“The good news is that in WA the LiveLighter campaign is tackling the obesity epidemic,” Mr Pratt said.

The ACT Government is working towards running LiveLighter to tackle the obesity epidemic in Canberra and other states have also expressed interest in running the campaign.

“The campaign takes people inside their own bodies and shows them the real effects of an unhealthy lifestyle and provides tools and support to help people live a healthier lifestyle. Early evaluation results show the campaign is having a positive impact on West Australians,” Mr Pratt said.

“Most people know what they need to do in order to live a healthier lifestyle but the problem is we aren’t doing it,” he said.

“Living a healthy lifestyle is for everyone. Regular physical activity and eating a wide range of healthy foods are essential to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.”

The LiveLighter campaign is funded by the Department of Health and run by the Heart Foundation WA in partnership with the Cancer Council WA.

For further details on the report: http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/more-efforts-needed-to-tackle-rising-obesity.htm

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Media contact:
Kema Rajandran, Media and Communications Manager
T: (08) 9382 5913
E: media@livelighter.com.au