Australia’s obesity gap widening between country and city, report finds

Adults living in regional areas more likely to be overweight, while country South Australia has the nation’s highest obesity rate

An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report has found adults living in regional Australia were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese.

The report was released on Thursday, weeks after data showed Australia’s wealthiest postcodes were the healthiest and has led to calls from the Australian Medical Association New South Wales for urgent action.

Based on data from Australia’s 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs), the institute’s Healthy Communities report found those living in country South Australia had the highest rate of obesity in the country.

But even in the area of Australia that fared best, northern Sydney, 50% of the population were either overweight or obese.

In 2014-15, there was an estimated 11.2 million Australian adults who were overweight or obese – one of the biggest risk factors for disease.

More men than women were considered too heavy, with 70.8% of males overweight or obese compared with 56.3% of females.

The highest rate of overweight and obese adults was in country South Australia at 73% – that’s almost three in four people – while northern Sydney had the lowest rate, at 53%.

As for the metro areas, the Nepean Blue Mountains, which takes in the western Sydney region of Penrith, had the highest rate (66.9%) of overweight and obese adults.

Full: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/dec/08/australias-obesity-gap-widening-between-country-and-city-report-finds

Lamentably, no. My gastronomic rapacity knows no satiety.

dv said:

Lamentably, no. My gastronomic rapacity knows no satiety.

And throw him to the floor, Sir.

> But even in the area of Australia that fared best, northern Sydney, 50% of the population were either overweight or obese.

50% of people above average weight is the definition of average.

I’m surprised by rural being heavier than city. I would have thought that rural people would be more aware of both unprocessed foods and have lower disposable income.

North Sydney is most famous for “persona-driven” people who consider image to be more important than substance.

mollwollfumble said:

> But even in the area of Australia that fared best, northern Sydney, 50% of the population were either overweight or obese.

50% of people above average weight is the definition of average.

I’m surprised by rural being heavier than city. I would have thought that rural people would be more aware of both unprocessed foods and have lower disposable income.

North Sydney is most famous for “persona-driven” people who consider image to be more important than substance.

I was sent to a podiatrist as part of the available medicare funded scheme when I asked for physiotherapist assistance.. The podiatrist told me that my doctor had sent me here because she thought I was prediabetic disposed like. Confidentially, the podiatrist told me that she would have been surprised if I wasn’t.

mollwollfumble said:

> But even in the area of Australia that fared best, northern Sydney, 50% of the population were either overweight or obese.

50% of people above average weight is the definition of average.

I’m surprised by rural being heavier than city. I would have thought that rural people would be more aware of both unprocessed foods and have lower disposable income.

North Sydney is most famous for “persona-driven” people who consider image to be more important than substance.

Overweight does not mean above average weight.

dv said:

mollwollfumble said:

> But even in the area of Australia that fared best, northern Sydney, 50% of the population were either overweight or obese.

50% of people above average weight is the definition of average.

I’m surprised by rural being heavier than city. I would have thought that rural people would be more aware of both unprocessed foods and have lower disposable income.

North Sydney is most famous for “persona-driven” people who consider image to be more important than substance.

Overweight does not mean above average weight.

Did anyone? oops mollwoll seems to have.

dv said:

mollwollfumble said:

> But even in the area of Australia that fared best, northern Sydney, 50% of the population were either overweight or obese.

50% of people above average weight is the definition of average.

I’m surprised by rural being heavier than city. I would have thought that rural people would be more aware of both unprocessed foods and have lower disposable income.

North Sydney is most famous for “persona-driven” people who consider image to be more important than substance.

Overweight does not mean above average weight.

No, it means above half average weight. I get narky about this because nobody has looked at the effect of age on weight since the 1950s, at a time when people were still recovering from the starvation conditions and food rationing of World War II.