overweightedness

One in four Australians aged 18 years and over is classed as obese and unfortunately this number is on a fast increase. Australia is officially listed as the fourth most overweight country in the world after the US, the UK, and New Zealand. Obesity now surpasses smoking as the biggest killer of Aussies.

Obesity and overweightedness has been associated with depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, anxiety, high cholesterol, asthma, injuries (back, neck, hip, knee, ankle), certain cancers, arthritis, chronic inflammation, heartburn, kidney stones, gout, and high blood pressure to name just a few chronic health diseases.
Does anyone REALLY want to live with illnesses that are preventable?

• In 2008, 18.43 billion dollars was spent on just the top three prescribed medication brands available to the public (Lipitor for high cholesterol [7.7bill], Nexium for heartburn [5.89 bill], and Plavix for CVD [4.83 bill]. These medications treat (not cure) diseases that are largely preventable through diet and exercise. Doesn't that astound you that we choose medications? Is that really an easier option?

• Cardiovascular Disease is the leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for 34% of all deaths in Australia in 2006. Cardiovascular disease kills one Australian nearly every 10 minutes

• Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease. About 890,000 Australians are currently diagnosed with diabetes. For every person diagnosed, it is estimated that there is another who is not yet diagnosed; a total of about 1.7 million people. Up to 60% of cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented.

• High Cholesterol - one in two Australian adults over 25 are living with high cholesterol
meaning many Australians are potentially at risk of heart disease.

COST

• It has been estimated that the overall cost of obesity to Australian society and governments is currently over $60 billion dollars!

• The total direct financial cost of obesity for the Australian community was estimated to be $8.3 billion in 2008.

• A modelled case study prepared for the United Nations estimated that Australia’s total health expenditure will increase in real terms by 127% over the period 2002 to 2032

• Obesity was associated with over four million days lost from Australian workplaces in 2001

Just to jog your memory... it is estimated that if current trends continue, close to 70% of all Australian adults will be overweight or obese by 2020! (If this does not scare you please read it again).

SO WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS?

OPTION A
We can take the proactive road and implement positive changes in our lives and slowly and safely, lose excess weight.

OPTION B
We can continue to be reactive and wait for Australians to develop these chronic lifestyle diseases (and they will), and then treat them with surgery, medication or cremation.

Lets go for option A hey -  if you are carrying excess kilos, I hope you see how important that is - for yourself and for everyone else who's life you touch! Do you really want to go down the road of option B?
There really is ...  NO excuses!

(statistical information courtesy of Obesity Australia)