We’re called the lucky country”, but it seems we’re rather unlucky when it comes to obesity rates, according to results from the recent Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.
Led by University of Washington researchers, the study found obesity rates in Australia and New Zealand have risen by more than 80 per cent in the past three decades. This was the biggest increase witnessed from the 200 countries involved.
Jumping almost 40 places to be named 25th in the obesity ranking, Australia was just behind the US and well in front of France, Finland, Germany and Japan. Tonga was ranked number one in the obesity stakes, followed by Samoa. New Zealand came in 21st.
It was found that 29 per cent of Australian adults are now obese compared to 16 per cent in 1980, according to their body mass index. Around 25 per cent of children and more than 60 per cent of adults are either overweight or obese, with 33 per cent of women obese - a 75 per cent increase since 1980.
Globally, 2.1 billion people are now overweight or obese, a 28 per cent increase in adults and an almost 50 per cent increase for children since 1980. No countries have reduced their obesity rates since 1980, with over 50 per cent of obese people living in developing countries.
Obesity is defined as having a body mass index of 30 or higher.
