DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines - Eat For Health

4.1 Setting the scene
A healthy weight is a body weight associated with normal growth and development in children,
and a reduced risk of short- and long-term morbidity and mortality among people of all ages [685-
689]. While it is unhealthy to be underweight, overweight or obese [88, 685], ideal weight varies
from one person to another and at different stages of life. A small or large persistent excess
energy intake can cause unwanted weight gain in people of any age.
There is widespread recognition of a global epidemic of overweight and obesity which requires
urgent attention [89, 685, 690, 691]. Overweight and obesity contributed 7.5% of the burden of
premature death and disability in Australia in 2003[11]. In Western Australia and Queensland,
where more recent data are available, at 8.3–8.6% it has now overtaken cigarette smoking as the
single greatest contributor of the biomedical risk factors assessed [692, 693].
A focus on healthy weight is a more positive way to address weight issues than focusing on obesity
and overweight. It encourages those who are a healthy weight to maintain that weight. It also helps
reduce the risk of any unintended negative consequences, such as disordered eating. Promotion of
healthy weight incorporates prevention and management of underweight, overweight and obesity
in children and adults and promotes healthy growth in children.
4.1.1 Weight status and trends in Australia
4.1.1.1 Adults
Measured height and weight data in 2007-08 showed that 2% of Australian adults were
underweight, 37% were of healthy weight, 37% were overweight and 25% were obese [694].
Overweight and obesity was more common in men than women (68% v 55%) and in people aged
65–74 years (75%) than in other age groups.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased significantly in Australia and most
developed countries since the 1970s [685, 691, 695], although there is some evidence of a
reduction in the rate of increase in children and adolescents in Australia over the past decade
[696].
4.1.1.2 Children and adolescents
A number of national and state-based surveys of children and adolescents using measured height
and weight data have found that between 21–25% of children and adolescents are overweight
and/or obese. Between 5–8% are obese and 2–5% are underweight [12, 13, 697-700]. The
DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines- December 2011 104