Obesity rates in Australia are increasing, to such and extent that the problem is now being referred to as an epidemic. Amazingly enough in today’s society obesity is being recognised as the most common health issue, yet is still one of Australia’s most neglected. Is obesity killing Australians? So how has this issue all gotten so out of control?
2007 has taken a new turn to this issue relating to the youth demographic by introducing a new and improved menu to the canteens of High Schools around Australia. By “dropping the junk” say’s Mr Knowles, the spokesmen for Health, it will decrease the percentage amount of obese children each year. This idea conveys that soft drinks and junk food packed with fat and sugar would be eliminated from school canteens and vending machines. This concept is trying to combat the obesity factor within Australia. But is all this a little too late?
Year 2000 displayed that the USA had the leading dominance of having the world’s highest proportion of overweight adults but as recent statists reveal that the label of the world’s fattest nation may have been handed to Australia. It’s not a matter of national pride, the not wanting to be labelled world’s fattest nation, but a matter of national health and wellbeing. First or second is not important. The main idea is that this podium finish is one we would rather not have. The increase of obesity through out Australia in the past 10 years is distressing. Being overweight or obese is a serious risk to both physical and mental health. Obesity is not just a problem for Australia’s adult population either, recent data indicates that the occurrence of childhood and adolescent overweigh and obesity rates, in Australia have continually increased in accompany with those of in adults.
These increased rates have a significant difference in the numbers throughout the years. Dr Michael Booth from the Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for...