Obesity Evidence Hub - Obesity Evidence Hub

Find key evidence on obesity trends, impacts, prevention & treatment in Australia

Trends

Obesity is rising among Australian children and adults. Rates of overweight are steady for adults, and in children rates of overweight have started to plateau after a sustained rise over decades.

Impacts

Obesity increases a person’s risk of various diseases including coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cancer. Impacts vary for children and adults and depend on socioeconomic and Indigenous status.

Prevention

An effective strategy to address obesity will recognise and address deeper systemic causes, rather than rely solely on individual-level approaches. This section outlines evidence in three key areas: tax and pricing; food labelling; and marketing.

Treatment

Behavioural intervention remains the cornerstone of treatment for overweight and obesity, with options for pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery where required. There are different considerations for adults, children and adolescents; and during pregnancy and birth.

Environmental

Major shifts in diet and physical activity patterns have led to increased rates of obesity and related chronic diseases around the world. Government regulations, settings-based interventions and social marketing campaigns can help to create health promoting environments and behaviour change.

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