Australian Medical Association

MJA Media Release -  Abdominally obese at higher risk of several illnesses

A new study published in the Medical Journal of Australia has shown that Australians who are abdominally obese (large waist circumference) are at heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.

The landmark AusDiab study surveyed 11,247 Australian adults aged 25 years or over in 1999 and 2000. In 2004 and 2005, 6537 of these participants returned for a follow-up physical examination.

The study found that men and women who were obese were more than twice as likely to develop diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipid (cholesterol) levels and the metabolic syndrome over the next 5 years compared to those with a normal waist circumference.

A new study provides clear evidence of the health benefits of banning TV junk food advertising aimed at children, AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today.

Research conducted by Professor Boyd Swinburn and his colleagues at the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre in Obesity Prevention at Deakin University found banning junk food ads aimed at children would lead to a 1.4 per cent, or 540 grams, reduction in the average weight of an Australian child.

According to the research, the associated health benefits could deliver $300 million worth of savings to the health system.

“While the Food and Grocery Council may be in denial, every parent knows that junk food advertising to children at any time of the day undermines efforts to encourage healthy eating habits,” Dr Pesce said.

“It is time for the Federal Government to show it’s serious about the targets by banning junk food advertising to children.

The growing number of Australians at risk of serious chronic diseases from obesity, smoking and excess alcohol use is a major health challenge facing Australia. This AMA Policy Brief, Preventing Obesity, Smoking and Excess Alcohol Use, summarises some key measures that the AMA believes should be given priority in a National Preventative Health Strategy, including support for the preventative role of doctors and implementation of a number of targeted community-level measures.

The AMA has renewed calls for an immediate ban on the advertising of unhealthy food during children’s viewing hours.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said obesity was becoming more prevalent in children, and urged government to act on advertising that targets children and unhealthy food.

“The health of Australia’s children, now and into the future, is of paramount importance. Food advertising influences what food children want, ask for, and eat,” Dr Capolingua said.

“Food advertising undermines the efforts of parents to provide healthy food for their children.

Today's news that the rate of childhood obesity in Australia has not increased in the last decade must not detract from the urgent need to reduce childhood obesity.

Research results released today by the University of South Australia found that obesity rates among children levelled off in the late 1990s and have remained steady since.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said this was good news but not the answer to the overall problem.

This submission responds to the options for prevention of obesity, smoking and harmful alcohol use that are explored in the National Preventative Health Taskforce discussion paper - Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020. The submission emphasises the crucial role of doctors in providing preventative health care.

This position statement outlines the measures the AMA considers appropriate for the prevention and treatment of obesity in Australia.

In this position statement the AMA notes the protective benefits of physical activity for chronic diseases, and argues that opportunities for physical activity should therefore be enhanced across all sectors of the Australian population.