What is obesity and how prevalent is it in Australia? Evaluate the psychosocial factors that impact on obesity.
Overweight and obesity conditions is increasing to epidemic proportions approximately world-wide, and is largely influenced by psychosocial factors predisposing excessive energy intakes and reduced energy expenditure, in recent decades as compared with previous. There are significant acute and chronic psychosocial health consequences associated with obesity, warranting public health initiatives to prevent further increases in its prevalence.
Obesity is a condition of measured excess adipose tissue associated with adverse health outcomes (Pi-Sunyer 2000; Troiano & Flegal, 1998) An International Obesity Task Force workshop (Bellizzi & Dietz, 1999) and the NHMRC of Australia (1997) have recommended the use of BMI (kg/m2) for age reference centiles as the most simple and reasonable clarification of obesity. .
Experts on obesity have consistently sought an internationally acceptable consensus measurement criteria and definition (Bellizzi & Dietz, 1999). In response, Cole and Colleagues (2000) have developed and published reference charts based on population data from six different countries. These values were statistically extrapolated from the widely accepted cut-off points of a BMI of 25 for overweight, and of 30 for obesity. Applying these reference curves to Australian data, the extent of overweight or obesity is estimated as approximately 19 to 23 % (Booth 2001), representing a significant increase during the 10-year period between 1985 and 1995 national surveys (Baur 2001). These Australian data are approximately consistent with worldwide trends (WHO 1998) of increasing obesity to epidemic proportions in the US (Troiano & Flegal 1998), some Western Europe countries (Grivetti 2001), and increasingly in lower-income and transitional countries, (Popkin & Doak 1998). .
Obesity results from an imbalance in energy intake as compared with expenditure, with one or both of diet or physical activities therefore being major proximate determinants (Popkin & Doak 1998).