Australia is today ranked as one of the fattest nations in the developed world. The prevalence of obesity in Australia has more than doubled in the past 20 years. Australia has become accustomed to sitting down – at work, on the couch, in the car – and it’s taking a major toll on the health of individuals and our economy.
- Fourteen million Australians are overweight or obese
- More than five million Australians are obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 )
If weight gain continues at current levels, by 2025, close to 80% of all Australian adults and a third of all children will be overweight or obese. Australia’s increasingly sedentary lifestyle is part of the complex and widespread problem of obesity and other related health diseases, which contribute to the death of more than 7,200 people each year .
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for non-communicable conditions like:
- Heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Some types of cancer
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Kidney disease
- Endometrial, breast, and colon cancers
- Mental health and eating disorders.
We all need to be moving more – not just exercising 30 minutes – but regularly throughout the day. Mounting evidence shows even basic regular movement like standing up while at work can help prevent health issues like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer. As experts in physical activity, weight management, heart disease and diabetes prevention, it is no wonder physiotherapists are increasingly playing a vital role in treating individuals for being overweight or obese as well