More than half NSW overweight
October 30, 2006
MORE than half of the NSW population considers itself overweight or obese, new figures show.
Almost 51 per cent of 3,000 people surveyed this year in NSW considered themselves to be overweight or obese, an increase of about 9 per cent since 1997.
The 2006 NSW Population Survey figures show people aged between 45 and 64 have the highest proportion of people who are classified as overweight or obese.
NSW Health Minister John Hatzistergos said more than 20 per cent of people surveyed in a separate NSW Health study listed obesity as the most pressing issue, now and during the next 20 years.
Mr Hatzistergos said obesity increased the risk of people developing life-threatening diseases such as heart disease, some cancers, stroke and diabetes.
"It is clear that this is a tsunami which will swamp us unless we take action," Mr Hatzistergos said.
Obesity in Australia
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