Obesity is Queensland's biggest problem - report
QUEENSLANDERS are the nation's fattest,scoring an ''F'' for fat on a new health report card, as the state spends $11.6 million to treat the overweight.
When it comes to quitting smoking Queensland scores a B+ but more than one in eight Queenslanders are overindulging in alcohol.
Anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes are also common chronic diseases causing premature deaths and costing Queensland billions of dollars, chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young says.
"Obesity - that's the really big one in more ways than one," Dr Young told reporters at the launch of the Health of Queenslanders report in Brisbane.
"This year in Queensland alone $11.6 billion is spent because we've got overweight and obese Queenslanders.
"What you eat is probably the most important outcome for your health."
Every week, the deaths of more than 100 Queenslanders could be prevented, according to the report.
The spotlight also is on the growing epidemic of childhood obesity and the poor state of indigenous health.
Indigenous health is a long-standing issue, affected by a number of external factors including housing and education.
Obesity in children is largely caused by the proliferation of junk food marketing and lack of exercise, the report said.
"If we don't do something our kids are going to be the first kids ever that will live a shorter life span than their parents, and that's a really scary thing," Dr Young said.
According to the report, Queenslanders have one of the longest life expectancies in the world, scoring eight out of 10.
"While we enjoy good health by measures such as length of life or quality of life, we cannot afford to ignore the challenge present by the prevalence of chronic disease," Dr Young said.
The facts:
- $11.6 billion spent annually in Queensland on illnesses related to overweight and obesity.
- 62 per cent of men, 50 per cent of women and 21 per cent of children are overweight or obese.
- Eight per cent of disease and death caused by tobacco.
- One in eight adults misuse alcohol.
- 50 per cent of adults and children don't exercise enough.
- 50 per cent of men and 25 per cent of women suffer from sun exposure.
The road to good health:
- Daily exercise
- Beware of the junk food
- Don't smoke
- Don't drink more than two alcoholic drinks every day.
- Monitor waist circumference: less than 94cm for men and 80cm for women.
