Obesity

Indicator Rationale 

The World Health Organisation has declared that obesity is a disease of pandemic significance, which threatens the developing world, as well as developed countries (Binns, 2006). The increase in the population who are considered obese (adults with a Body Mass Index greater than 30) has been increasing rapidly over the past twenty five years.  In 1980, one in 14 Australians were obese. Based on current trends, by 2025, a third of the population could be obese (Binns, 2006). The health problems and consequences of obesity include muscular-skeletal problems, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, sleep apnoea, type 2 diabetes and hypertension (Department of Health and Aging, 2006).     

Data Source

 Victorian Population Health Survey, 2008

Measure

Percentage of people who are obese according to a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater.

BMI is calculated as the ratio of self assessed weight and height (kilograms / metres²). A normal BMI ranges from 18.5 - 24.9 while a BMI of 25.0 - 29.9 is overweight and a BMI greater than 30 is obese. Victorian Population Health Survey data were collected for the first time at the Local Government Area level in 2008 and form the source for these data.

Survey Question

How tall are you without shoes? How much do you weigh?

Height in centimetres or feet and inches (12 inches in a foot) or weight in kilograms or stones and pounds or pounds (14 pounds in a stone).

Source of Question

Department of Health and Ageing, Australian Government

References

>Department of Health and Ageing, Australian Government, About Overwieght and Obesity, 2006

Flood V, Webb K, Lazarus R & Panf G 1999, ‘Use of self-report to monitor overweight and obesity in populations: some issues for
consideration’, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol. 24, pp. 96–9.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare & Australian Department of Health and Family Services 1997, First report on national health priority areas 1996, Canberra.

World Health Organisation 1997, Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic, Geneva.

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2001, National Health Survey 2001, cat. no. 4364.0, Canberra.