Survey reveals 20% increase in Australian obesity levels
March 15, 2006A recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) study has found a 20% increase in obesity among Australian adults.
According to results from the 2004-05 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey, approximately 20% more Australian adults were overweight or obese in 2004-5 than in 2001.
Over the last ten years the proportion of adults classified as overweight or obese increased from 52% to 62% for men and from 37% to 45% for women.
However, only 32% of men and 37% of women among the 25,000 people surveyed considered themselves to be fat - the gap between perception and reality being particularly large among overweight men.
According to the ABS survey, the number of Australians who drink dangerous amounts of alcohol is also on the rise, up 2% in the past three years.
Foundation programs on obesity and alcohol
In 2004 the Rural Health Education Foundation produced the program Obesity and Overweight: It CAN be Managed, which is available for purchase on VHS video (program 408) and is also viewable via online video webstreaming.
In 2004 the Rural Health Education Foundation produced the program Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol Problems, which is available for purchase on DVD and VHS video (program 402) and is also viewable via online video webstreaming.
An earlier Foundation program, Alcohol Dependency, is also available for purchase on VHS video (program 88).