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February 2, 2012
The 2007-08 National Health Survey (NHS) measured the height, weight, hip and waist circumference of respondents aged 5 years or more and found that 61.4% of the Australian population are either overweight or obese. outliers. Victoria had the lowest incidence of obesity, at 17.0% of the population, with South Australia reporting the highest numbers at 19.6%.
Obesity has overtaken smoking as the leading cause of premature death and illness in Australia. In 2008, the costs associated with obesity in Australia were estimated to be more than $58 billion and it is only going to get worse.
Australia today is ranked as one of the fattest nations in the developed world. On average, obesity reduces life expectancy by six to seven years.
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