CANBERRA - The number of Australians who are classified as obese has increased by over 2 million in the last decade, a report has found.
According to the report, which was published by peak advocacy NGO The Obesity Collective on Monday, there were 6.3 million Australians living with obesity in 2022 -- an increase of 61.5 percent from 3.9 million in 2012.
In order to be classified as obese in Australia a person must have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
Monday's report found that the number of Australians living with highest-risk class three obesity -- meaning a BMI of 40 or higher -- increased by 48 percent in the decade to 2022 while the prevalence of class two obesity -- those with a BMI between 35 and 40 -- grew by 23 percent.
The report estimated that obesity would cost the Australian economy 235 billion Australian dollars (around 153 billion USD) over the next 40 years.
Tiffany Petre, director of The Obesity Collective, said in a media release that obesity is linked to over 30 diseases, including 17 types of cancer.
"Those most impacted by obesity are much more likely to have chronic health conditions needing treatment over a long period. It makes sense to support people to manage their health earlier, before health conditions become severe," she said.
In a pre-budget submission to the federal government the collective called for more funding for initiatives to make environments healthier, provide better healthcare for people with obesity and to tackle weight stigma.
Health minister Mark Butler in 2023 commissioned experts from the University of Wollongong to conduct a study on the feasibility of restricting the marketing of unhealthy food to children.
The government in February opened a public consultation process for the policy. - XINHUA