1. Obesity—weighing up the facts Karen Bishop and Ilona Brockway

2. Obesity crisis on our hands Sydney Morning Herald, 9 April 2010 Obesity headed for 75 per cent Sydney Morning Herald, 13 May 2010 Australia: Fat nation ABC News, 20 June 2008 Australia’s ticking 'fat bomb' The Age, 20 June 2008 Australia counts the heavy cost of obesity Herald Sun, 1 June 2010 Taxpayers to fund war on obesity The Daily Telegraph, 2 June 2009

3. Excess body weight Why assess excess body weight? Population measures Current status Trends in obesity Variation among different populations Prevention

4. Why body weight is measured? Health risks associated with overweight and obesity –Cardiovascular disease –Diabetes (type II) –Chronic kidney disease Also for colorectal cancer, osteoarthritis and depression

5. How body weight is assessed Body mass index, BMI (kg/m 2 ) –Categories Normal healthy weight (18.5 to less than 25) Overweight (25 to less than 30) Obese (30 or more) –Self-reported versus measured height and weight –Useful population measure Other measure include waist circumference and waist-hip ratio

6. Overweight or obese MalesFemales Overweight42%31% Obese25%24% Overweight or obese 67%55% Measured data, NHS 2007–08

7. Trends in mean weight by sex Measured weight from various RFPS, AusDiab and NHS, 25–64 year olds

8. Trends in BMI Self-reported height and weight, 18 years plus, various NHS surveys

9. Trends in obesity by age MalesFemales Self-reported height and weight, 18 years plus, various NHS surveys

10. Comparisons for obese females Prevention of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic kidney disease (AHIW 2009, Cat. no. PHE 118)

11. Comparisons for obese males Prevention of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic kidney disease (AHIW 2009, Cat. no. PHE 118)

12. The ‘weighting’ room Overweight (≥25 kg/m 2 ) Obese (≥30 kg/m 2 ) Self-reported BMI from NHS 1995 and 2007–08

13. Looking abroad OECD Online database, viewed June 2010

14. Prevention Promote healthy lifestyles Prevent further gain Commitment Monitor and evaluate—permanent, regular and consistent national study covering biomedical measures Australian Health Survey

15. Take-away food for thought Data indicate a growing prevalence in obesity Prevalence of obesity is different in different population groups Regular, consistent national data for monitoring the situation