Combating the obesity epidemic: cultural problems demand cultural solutions.

摘要

Health problems related to excessive weight or obesity have acquired great importance in modern developed society. Although estimates vary it is apparent that the scope of these problems is vast. Obesity is now a leading cause of preventable deaths, with more than 400 000 such deaths occurring yearly in the USA alone. In Australia the incidence of obesity is increasing rapidly. Nearly two-thirds of people are overweight and nearly one-third obese: this amounts to approximately 9 million people over the age of 18 who are overweight and approximately 3.3 million who are obese. The list of health problems associated with excessive weight is similarly impressive. It includes, among other conditions, diabetes mellitus, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, renal and gastroenterological disease, sleep apnoea, lung disease, arthritis and depression. The economic cost is also great: it has been estimated that in the USA the total cost is currently approximately dollar 117 000 million per year, which includes more than dollar 50 000 million in avoidable medical costs. In Australia, the total financial costs of obesity in 2005 were estimated as dollar 3767 million, with a net cost of lost well-being valued at a further dollar17 200 million.