Fast Facts

About the Obesity Society

• The Obesity Society was established in 1991. It is a scientific organisation of medical practitioners, dietitians, scientists and other health care professionals interested in obesity research, treatment or public health initiatives directed at the prevention of obesity.
• The Obesity Society is a full member of the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO), and has over 600 members throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Region.

OBESITY

• Obesity is a complex and multifactorial disease. It is characterised by the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue to an extent that health is impaired.
• Obesity is a serious medical condition, associated with a wide range of chronic and life-threatening conditions and severe health complications. Health risks associated with obesity include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and some cancers.
• Overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence is associated with a wide variety of serious complications and health problems. The most significant long-term consequence of childhood obesity is its persistence into adulthood.
• In addition to a high-fat, high-energy diet and a lack of physical activity, there are a number of other factors that may give rise to weight gain.

STATISTICS & PREVALENCE DATA

• The number of people who are obese is rising rapidly worldwide, making obesity one of the fastest developing public health problems. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described the problem of obesity as a “worldwide epidemic”.
• Recent studies estimate that more than half of all Australian women (52%) and two-thirds of men (67%) are overweight or obese. That is, almost 60% of the adult population in Australia is overweight or obese.
• The prevalence of obesity in Australia has more than doubled in the past 20 years; the prevalence is 2.5 times higher now than in 1980.
• Rates of childhood obesity in Australia are at one of the highest amongst developed nations. 25% of Australian children are currently overweight or obese.
• In the 10-year period from 1985 to 1995, the level of combined overweight / obesity in Australian children more than doubled, whilst the level of obesity tripled in all age groups and for both sexes.
• Obesity is a health crisis that is costing the Australian government up to $1.5 billion a year in direct health costs.