According to the Australian Bureau of Statistic’s most recent National Health Survey, 7.4 million Australians age 18 and over are overweight or obese. That is an increase of nearly 3 million people over the past 15 years. This equates to almost 60% of Australians, according to the National Heart Foundation.

Obesity is defined as storing extra fat to the point of causing certain health conditions or increased mortality. It is a personal problem for a growing number of Australians, but it is also a public health concern. Entire populations, where overweight has become the norm, have increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, sleep apnoea, several cancers, and osteoarthritis. It can also lead to blindness, kidney failure, and death. There are genetic causes in some people, but research shows that it is mostly linked to lifestyle issues of inactivity and excessive food intake.

The Body Mass Index is widely used to determine a person’s level of fatness. This is calculated by dividing one’s weight in kilograms by one’s height in metres squared. (Please refer to BMI table at the end of this article.) Abdominal fat is the most dangerous kind, and increases the risk of cardiovascular and other disease. Simple waist measurement is also used; over 102 cm for men, and 88 cm for women indicates basic obesity.

Besides the social stigma that obese people can face each day, it is harder for them to walk very far or to use public transport. It is difficult to fit into standard size furniture, airplane seats, and hospital gurneys. Several Australian airlines are considering imposing a “fat tax” on obese passengers, requiring payment for each seat taken up.

The Iemma government has recently had to buy three additional super-sized ambulances, at $150,000 each, in order to cope with those people who are so fat they cannot fit inside a standard ambulance. They are designed for people who weigh at least 180 kilograms. Moving these patients can take up to 5 hours, and require the assistance of the police, fire-fighters, and SES volunteers, according to the NSW Health Minister, Reba Meagher.

The manufacture of super sized furniture is a quickly growing industry, and hospitals are being forced to purchase special hydraulic lifting equipment to transfer obese people onto hospital beds. Extra large medical examination machines are needed, such as Computerised Tomograph (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imagers (MRI), as the obese do not fit into the standard ones. Some homes and units have been damaged in the effort to rescue ailing fat people from inside, with the removal of doors or walls, and the use of cranes to lift the person down. This is a huge cost to the community in time, effort and funds.

It would be worth considerable effort to prevent obesity in yourself and your family. This requires access to information about healthy lifestyle, food and exercise, and a personal commitment to maintaining a healthy weight. Fewer fast food meals and more daily physical activity are recommended. Helpful advice abounds in the media, on the Internet, and in the public library. Experts say that even the loss of 5% of one’s body weight would have a good effect on the entire system, putting less strain on joints, heart and blood vessels.

In general, everyone should eat:

A wide variety of nutritious foods

Plenty of breads and cereals (wholegrain), vegetables, legumes (such as chickpeas and lentils) and fruit

Low salt foods, and use salt sparingly

Small amounts of foods containing added sugars.

Less saturated fat (as found in meat and full fat dairy foods)

In addition, all fizzy drinks, including those sweetened by corn syrup, as well as the diet versions, have been proven by researchers to contribute to obesity. These beverages are better avoided.

Dealing with increased stress also significantly predicts increased BMI and a ‘lowered capacity to resist food’. Dealing effectively with stress would be an important part of preventing obesity.

Body Mass Indicator (BMI) table

A BMI of less than 18.5 is underweight

A BMI of 18.5 – 24.9 is normal weight

A BMI of 25.0 – 29.9 is overweight

A BMI of 30.0 – 39.9 is obese

A BMI of 40.0 or higher is severely obese

A BMI of 35.0 or higher, in the presence of co-morbidity (such as Type 2 Diabetes or heart disease), is classified as morbid obesity.

Reminder

It is a good idea to see your doctor before starting any physical activity program if:

You are over 40 years old

Physical activity causes pain in your chest

You often faint or have spells of severe dizziness

Moderate physical activity makes you very breathless

You are at a higher risk of heart disease

You think you might have heart disease or you have heart problems

You are pregnant.

Mrs. Leslie McCawley B.S. (USA), M.P.H. (Otago)
EA/Research Officer
Office of Rev Hon Dr Gordon Moyes AC MLC

Resources:
UNSW Lifestyle Clinic (02) 9383 3352 email: lifestyleclinic@unsw.edu.au
Next “Open day” 23 February 2008 10 am – 4 pm. Anzac Parade, Kensington. NSW

Metabolism & Obesity Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW 2050 (02) 9351 2170
http://www.core.monash.org/prevention.html
http://www.deakin.edu.au/hmnbs/who-obesity/
http://www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au

References:
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4719.0/
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au
http://en.wikipedia.org./wiki/Obesity
http://www.cdc.gov
http://www.obesityresearch.org
Obesity 15:3039-3044 (2007)
Obesity 15: 3045-3055 (2007)
The Effects of Stress on Body Weight: Biological and Psychological Predictors of Change in BMI. Cliff Roberts, Nicholas Troop, Frances Connan, Janet Treasure, and Iain C. Campbell.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/obesity-crisis-calls-for-more-heavyduty-ambulances/2008/02/10/1202578600937.html
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/25/1088046261633.html?from=storylhs#

Wednesday, 13th February, 2008, 10:30 am | Healthy Lifestyle