Being overweight increases the risk of premature illness and death
Obese people risk getting several diseases:
- Obesity and overweight are linked to Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and some cancers.
- Type 2 diabetes is increasingly common among teenagers who have been obese for a few years.
- People with Type 2 diabetes may develop kidney failure, loss of vision, high blood pressure, and hip and joint problems.
Obese people have a much higher risk of premature death:
- In NZ poor nutrition or physical inactivity led to an estimated 11,000 deaths (40% of all deaths) in 1997.
- Of these, 8,000-9,000 reflect poor diet and 2,000-3,000 reflect physical inactivity.
- High body mass index contributed to 3,154 deaths (11% of all deaths) and 37,373 years of life lost in 1997.
- 80% of diabetes deaths in 1997 had these risk factors.
Type 2 diabetes rates are on the increase in adults:
- 150 million people worldwide have diabetes. 90% of whom have Type 2 diabetes.
- The number of people with diabetes is expected to double by 2025.
- The incidence of diabetes in New Zealand is predicted to rise by 80% by 2011. Most will be Type 2 diabetes.
- The Ministry of Health predicts that by 2011 the number of deaths related to Type 2 diabetes will increase by 40%.
More facts:
- Our children are among the fattest in the world
- Adult obesity is high in NZ and likely to increase
- Lack of exercise and unhealthy eating are two of the main causes
- Obesity and related diseases will lead to dramatically increased health costs
Back to "Obesity - The Facts" homepage
References
Obesity
http://www.commercialalert.org/childhoodobesity.pdf
DIABETES MELLITUS. WHO Fact sheet no. 138 April 2002
Nutrition and the Burden of Disease: New Zealand 1997-2011. Wellington: Ministry of Health, 2003 (PDF) Summary
Willett, WC et al. Weight, weight change and coronary heart disease in women. Risk within the 'normal 'range. JAMA 1995 Feb 8; 273 (6): 461-465
Childhood Obesity: Public Health Crisis, Common Sense Cure. Ebbeling, Pawlak, Ludwig, The Lancet. 2002-08-10
Type 2 diabetes
DIABETES MELLITUS. WHO Fact sheet no. 138 April 2002
Nutrition and the Burden of Disease: New Zealand 1997-2011. Wellington: Ministry of Health, 2003 (PDF) Summary
