National Cancer Prevention Policy - Tobacco Control Supersite

Obese children have a 25% to 50% chance of progression to adult obesity, and this may
be as high as 78% in older obese adolescents (Must & Strauss 1999). This significant risk
confirms the importance of preventive action.
Specific population groups
The problem of overweight and obesity is so large and widespread throughout the
community that it is difficult to identify any particular group that is not profoundly affected
by the problem. However there are certain groups in the Australian community that bear a
disproportionate burden of this condition.
Data suggest that among Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, overweight
and obesity affect 60% of men and 58% of women (ABS 1995 National Health Survey
results, cited in NHMRC 1997; NATSI Working Party 2001). The prevalence of obesity in
males is 25% and in females 28%, compared with an overall population prevalence of
obesity of 18%. Differences in the level of overweight and obesity between Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal men and women are most pronounced in the younger age groups. High
levels of obesity are found even among the youngest age groups of Aboriginal men and
women and they continue to increase throughout life, up to the sixth decade. However, the
association between overweight and obesity and diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular
disease and cancers in these communities remains unclear (Guest et al. 1993; Leonard et
al. 2002; Wang & Hoy 2002).
The level of overweight and obesity is higher (up to two to three times) among people
of Southern European and Middle Eastern ethnic origin, when compared to those of
British descent (NSW Health 2003). In contrast, those born in South East Asia had
substantially lower levels of overweight, although care must be taken in interpreting
these figures as the classification system may underestimate overweight in Asian people
(Bennett & Magnus 1994; Bennett 1995; Mathers 1994; NSW Health 2003).
A low social status and low level of education are associated with a higher level of
overweight and obesity, although the effect is more obvious in women and is not as strong
as the relationship between social status and other illnesses (NSW Health 2003). Around
53% of women in the lowest socio-economic group were overweight, compared with 44%
of women in the highest socio-economic group. In addition, 24% of women in the lowest
socio-economic group were obese compared with only 14% of those in the highest group.
There was no significant difference in the number of overweight or obese men in the
highest when compared to the lowest socio-economic groups.
Some data suggest that rural and remote communities have higher levels of overweight
and obesity (NSW Health 2003). The issue of access to appropriate foods and opportunities
to engage in appropriate physical activity are likely to be major contributing factors to these
differentials in rural and remote communities.
The clustering of factors such as low levels of education, low income and food insecurity,
and their association with overweight and obesity levels, requires complex and sensitive
interventions.
2 Section One: Preventable risk factors