Tasmanians are fattest
LINDA SMITH
June 05, 2009 10:25am
THE waistlines of Tasmanian men and women continue to grow, making us the fattest adults in the nation.
Almost two thirds of Tasmanians are overweight or obese and face a higher risk of serious illness than people in other states and territories.
Nearly one in three Tasmanian women (30 per cent) and one in four men (25 per cent) are obese, well above the national average of 23 per cent.
And almost one in four Tasmanian women (23 per cent) and 42 per cent of men are classed as overweight.
Tasmanians have a higher body mass index (BMI) than adults in other states.
The BMI is calculated by comparing a person's height and weight to rank them on a scale of underweight (BMI less than 18.5), normal (18.5 to 24.9), overweight (25 to 29.9) and obese (30 and above).
The average Tasmanian woman is overweight with a BMI of 27.3, which is above the national average of 26.3 and well above the Northern Territory where women have a BMI of 23.9.
The average Tasmanian man also ranks in the overweight category with a BMI of 27.8, slightly under the national average but still above all other states.
The figures, which are part of the latest Melbourne Institute research commissioned by the Federal Government, also reveal a strong relationship between height and weight and the level of education Tasmanians reach.
Nationally, university graduates are half as likely to be obese as people who did not complete high school.
And university educated women are on average 3cm taller than women whose highest level of education was year 11 or below.
The average height of Australian adults is 163cm for women and 177cm for men.
The tallest men on average are those with bachelor degrees (178.4cm) or some type of postgraduate qualification (178.1cm) but men with lower qualifications average 176.2cm.
The study also found that Generation Y (people born between 1980-1990) are an average 3cm taller than baby boomers (born 1946-55).
Heart Foundation CEO Graeme Lynch said Tasmanians were putting themselves at increased risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes and encouraged them to see a GP if they thought they may be overweight.
He said much of Tasmania's population was in regional or remote areas with less access to gyms and health care facilities.
He said Tasmania also had an older population who often carried more weight and found it difficult to exercise, and people in lower socio-economic areas were not getting the health message.
He said Tasmania also had more farming communities where a lot of butter, meat and other foods high in saturated fats were consumed.
MEASURING UP
Body mass index is calculated by weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared (height x height) and measured against the BMI scale.
Underweight BMI -- less than 18.5
Normal -- 18.5 to 24.9
Overweight -- 25 to 29.9
Obese -- 30 and above
* For example, someone who is 166cm tall and weighs 60kgs would have a BMI of 21.8 (healthy weight range)
http://www.themercury.com.au/art ... 7715_lifestyle.html |
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