AMA (NSW) and RDA (NSW) Presidents: Without staff, upgraded Bega hospital is just a bigger building
September 12, 2016
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September 20, 2016AMA (NSW) President, Prof Brad Frankum, says the latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) on Australia’s health reinforces the need for action on overweight and obesity.
“The report shows about one third of adults in Australia are obese, and another third are overweight.
“One quarter of children aged 5-14 are overweight or obese and so are nearly forty per cent of young adults aged 15-24.
“95 per cent of us aren’t eating enough fruit and vegetables and only just over half of us get sufficient physical exercise.
“Overweight and obesity, as well as physical inactivity are already two of the biggest contributors to the burden of disease on people in Australia.
“The epidemic is getting worse, with the average Australian gaining four-and-a-half kilograms since 1995.
“We need urgent action and a national plan to halt and reverse this major health problem,” Prof Frankum said.
“Overweight and obesity are set to be more dangerous to the population’s health than tobacco.
“This report shows the insidious effects overweight and obesity are already having on the health of people in Australia.
“One in 20 Australians has diabetes, with the overwhelming majority having type two diabetes.
“Diabetes contributes to one in 10 deaths in Australia – more than two thirds of diabetes patients also have cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease.
“Overweight and obesity also contribute to heart disease and cancer – our two biggest killers,” Prof Frankum said.
“These are not statistics we should be comfortable with or resigned to.
“We need to take action to improve the health of people in Australia, because the future is looking increasingly bleak, if we continue down this path.
“This is a very complex problem and there is no easy fix but we need to do everything we can to increase healthy eating habits, encourage people to be more active, and to help people lose weight.
“The only way we can create this sort of change is to ensure the Federal and all State and Territory Governments are on board and active participants in a co-operative national plan,” Prof Frankum said.
Media contact: Lachlan Jones 0419 402 955