What is Obesity? Obesity refers to the presence of excess fat tissue in the body, according to the body mass index (BMI), which is more than 30% body fat. Obesity and overweight population are of particular concern in Australia due to the considerable rise in prevalence over the past years. BMI is the most common measure, and is most suitable for assessing overweight and obesity of a population level. A BMI between 25 and 29.8 is considered to be overweight, and over 30 is considered to be obese.

Reasons for selection  Obesity has been identified as a National Health Priority Area (NHPA) in recognition of the urgent need to tackle the obesity crisis. It is hoped that including obesity would:  Help drive collaborative efforts aimed at tackling obesity at national, local, state and territory levels.  Ensure that obesity receives the attention it deserves as a matter of urgency.

Burden of Disease  In 2003, it was estimated that high body weight was responsible for about 7.6% of total burden of disease in Australia. In it was estimated that approximately half of all Australian adults were overweight or obese.

Risk Factors  Biological factors contributing to obesity are:  Genetics: This is a risk factor that may cause some individuals to be more likely to gain weight than others.  Behavioural factors contributing to obesity are:  Diet: This is one of the most significant risk factors for obesity. There may be an imbalance between the energy consumed and the energy expended over a period of time. A diet that is high in energy dense foods contributes to this imbalance.  Physical inactivity: The second half of this imbalance relates to a lack of energy expended, so being physically inactive is also a risk factor for obesity.  Social factors contributing to obesity are:  Lack of access to nutritional food sources: Individuals who may find it difficult to either afford or access nutritional food sources are at a greater risk of becoming overweight or obese.  Lack of access to sporting facilities: Individuals who find it difficult to access sporting facilities may be at a greater risk of becoming overweight or obese due to a lack of physical activity.

Health Promotion Strategies Get Set 4 Life – Habits for healthy kids: The Get Set 4 Life initiative focuses on a guide for raising healthy kids, which was developed by the CSIRO for the Australian Government. The guide provides practical information for parents on specific areas of health including: Healthy eating Regular exercise Speech and language Oral health Skin and sun protection Hygiene Sleep patterns To assist them in developing healthy habits as children. The aim of this health check is to see if children are healthy, fit and ready to learn when they start school. The Healthy Kids Check will promote early detection of lifestyle risk factors, delayed development and illness, and introduce guidance for healthy lifestyles and early intervention strategies.

Health Promotion Strategies The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden National Program: This initiative is directed at primary school aged children in Years 3-6 and involves teaching children about how to grow, cook and share fresh food with the aim of improving their food choices.

The costs to individuals and communities  THE COSTS TO INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES:  Ill health carries with it a number of associated costs to individuals and the communities. The impact of ill health or the costs of ill health can be classified as being direct, indirect or intangible.  Direct costs include costs that can be accurately quantified and result from the prevention, treatment or diagnosis of disease or illness. These costs often relate specifically to things such as costs of medical treatment and medication.  Indirect costs are measures that are more difficult to value in monetary terms. They are costs incurred by an individual, an individual’s family or the community because of the consequences that the illness may have on an individual’s work and social activities but do not include costs associated specifically with treating or diagnosing the illness or disease.  Intangible costs include those costs that cannot be associated with a dollar value. They relate to human costs of loss of quality of life rather than the financial impact.

Costs to the Community COSTS TO THE COMMUNITY: Direct costs to the community include: The cost of healthcare services such as general practitioner time, specialist time, tests used to diagnose or treat illness, emergency attendances and hospital outpatient and inpatient services. The cost of pharmaceuticals The cost of prevention strategies Indirect costs to the community include: Unpaid care Reduced or lost productivity Absenteeism Intangible costs to the community include: Loss of an individual from a community due to premature death. COSTS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL: Direct costs for the individual include: The costs of medical care Ambulance Pharmaceutical expanses Allied health services Indirect costs for the individual include: Travel costs related to receiving treatment and care Loss or partial loss of current or future earnings Additional services Intangible costs for individuals include: Pain and suffering Anxiety and stress due to reduced productivity Loss of time Loss of quality of life.