Obesity Crisis In Australia

Australia is suffering a health crisis with the young generation, within the last two decades the young children’s weight has increased. The rise in overweight children is also contributing to the obesity increase in children. In the past obesity was linked with hormonal or genetic disorder. Today it is seen as a social problem, relating to social class and diversity (socioeconomic). Children have become more inactive in modern sociality today. Twenty years ago children would be playing outside running with friends, riding bikes being physically active while playing with each other burning fat without realising. One of the main factors that are relating to obesity is inactivity and unhealthy eating habits. Foods that are high in fat and energy but low in nutrients “combined with low or lack of physical activity store the unused energy as fat in the body” ( Australian Bureau of Statistics[AUSSTATS],2009,para.1).
Australia is following the trend as stated in (betterhealth channel ,para.6). “one in five children and adolescents, are either overweight or obese”. Although in countries that are low in economic statues such as Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin-America and Africa obesity are lower (Broom, 2008). The percentage of overweight or obese children increased to 8% in 2007-2008 from 5% in 1995 (Ausstats ,2009, p2,para.2). Children in Australia are spending a lot of time on sedentary pursuits in modern society, sedentary pursuits such as television, gaming gadgets and computers resulting in less activity. (Broom,