Preview

The Importance Of Obesity In Australia's Economy

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1304 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Importance Of Obesity In Australia's Economy
The prevalence of obesity in Australia has increased dramatically over the past few decades. According to MODI (2014), obesity has overtaken smoking as the leading cause of premature death and illness in Australia. It is currently a national public health crisis with huge negative impacts on the nation and its economy. This essay will explore obesity rates and costs in Australia and then it will examine the economic theory and the government interventions that underlie policies to deal with obesity rates. Government failures that could arise from these interventions will also be considered.

Australia is considered as one of fattest nations in this developed world. National Heart Foundation of Australia (2012) findings illustrate that nearly …show more content…
This is supported by Hubbard et al. (2013, p. 130) who state that government interventions attempt to increase market’s economic efficiency. The government can impose a fat tax that equals to the obesity cost to eliminate the negative externalities. Figure 2 shows that taxation will drive the supply curve up from S1 to S2. Price goes up from P1 to P2 and deadweight loss is internalised. Taxes on unhealthy food may encourage people to lower their consumptions and suppliers to produce less unhealthy food. This fat tax will raise the cost of unhealthy food and reduce the quantity being exchanged in the market. As a result, the market may produce at an efficient equilibrium …show more content…
(2012). 'Fat tax ' ineffective in countering obesity. Retrieved from http://www.esrc.ac.uk/news-and-events/features-casestudies/features/19779/Fat_tax_ineffective_in_countering_obesity.aspx

Hubbard, R. G., Garnett, A. M., Lewis, P. & O’Briend, A. P. (2013). Essentials of economics (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Australia.

Ketter, P. (2006). Obesity affects workplace productivity. T + D, 60(6), 14. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/227016684?accountid=13380

Martin, S. S. (2005). From poverty to obesity: Exploration of the food choice constraint model and the impact of an energy-dense food tax. American Economist, 49(2), 78-86. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/200704386?accountid=13380

MODI (Monash Obesity and Diabetes Institute). (2014). Facts & Figures: Obesity in Australia. Retrieved from http://www.modi.monash.edu.au/obesity-facts-figures/obesity-in-australia

National Heart Foundation of Australia. (2012). Factsheet: overweight and obesity statistics. Retrieved from
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Evaluate the case for the imposition of a saturated fat tax in the United Kingdom.
    • 728 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Evaluate the case for the imposition of a saturated fat tax in the United Kingdom.

    Evaluate the case for the imposition of a saturated fat tax in the United Kingdom. (30 Marks)…

    • 728 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    IMixon Assignment Unit 3
    • 561 Words
    • 2 Pages

    IMixon Assignment Unit 3

    Loureiro, M., (2006). Obesity: Economic Dimensions of a “Super Size” Problem. Choices. Retrieved from http://www.choicesmagazine.org/2004-3/obesity/2004-3-02.htm…

    • 561 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Causal analysis-obesity
    • 1620 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Causal analysis-obesity

    McVeigh, Tracy. "Obesity Epidemic: Who 's to Blame?." The Observer (London, England). 25 Oct 2009: 16. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 18 Nov 2013.…

    • 1620 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Let Them Eat Fast Pearlberg Analysis
    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Let Them Eat Fast Pearlberg Analysis

    Journalist Robert Pearlberg quotes, “In 2010, Denmark increased by 25 percent its excise tax on chocolate, ice cream, sugary drinks and confectionary products… and timing of ads for foods high in fat, salt or sugar (par. 4). With this intention, obesity can prevented for future generations. Moreover, Pearlberg quotes, “The groups in the United States most likely to become obese are racial minorities… least able to access quality medical care (par. 9). However, this solution has an obstacle. Americans have relied on fast food for so long that imposing taxes on unhealthy, or sugary foods is unreliable for them. The poorer families rely on cheap fast-food to feed their families, and Pearlberg quotes that “Regulating food ads is also more difficult in the United States because our courts treat such ads as “commercial speech” constitutionally protected under the First Amendment (par. 6). Stopping obesity will take longer because of their objections on placing soda taxes, or the food commercials being protected by the First Amendment because it is treated as “commercial…

    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Qbt1 Task 5
    • 2991 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Qbt1 Task 5

    Possibly the most imperative public health challenge for the United States today is the obesity epidemic the population has. This obesity epidemic, is linked to an array of costly and debilitating health consequences. The widespread challenge of obesity and the health problems and concerns that go with that is an American public health problem. FDA’s approval of two new medications that can help to decrease some of the obesity , decrease some of the chronic diseases associated with obesity, and decrease the costs associated with obesity. This essay will be addressing these pertinent problems and will prove that the new FDA drugs approved for weight loss will help American’s with weight loss that will decrease obesity, decrease chronic illnesses that are associated with obesity and decrease health care costs. Prevention of obesity along with investing in research is necessary for us to see a change in the obesity epidemic (Hammond, 2012). Research suggests that decreasing obesity will decrease the costs of health care, decrease chronic illnesses associated with obesity. Total obesity costs would be much more reduced, along with the cost for other conditions caused by excess weight in our population (Finkelstein, Trogdon, Cohen & Dietz, 2009). Research suggests that the newest FDA approved diet pills will benefit Americans by decreasing obesity, decreasing chronic diseases associated with obesity and decreasing health care costs.…

    • 2991 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Obesity: a Sociological Epidemic
    • 2434 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Obesity: a Sociological Epidemic

    Young, L., & Nestle, M. (2002). The contribution of expanding portion sizes to the us obesity epidemic. American Journal of Public Health , 92(2), 246-249.…

    • 2434 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Social Determinants Of Health (SDOH)
    • 1563 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Social Determinants Of Health (SDOH)

    Friel, S. (2010). Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020. Retrieved from Preventative Health Taskforce: http://www.preventativehealth.org.au/internet/preventativehealth/publishing.nsf/Content/0FBE203C1C547A82CA257529000231BF/$File/commpaper-hlth-equity-friel.pdf…

    • 1563 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Childhood Obesity In Australia
    • 3724 Words
    • 15 Pages

    Childhood Obesity In Australia

    In the period between 1985 and 1997 the number of overweight children doubled, and the number of obese young Australian’s tripled (Booth et. al, 2003; Chapman et. al, 2006). Overweight children are 78% more likely to develop adult obesity and are particularly prone to health problems such as Type 2 diabetes, stoke, cardio vascular disease, and other health disorders and diseases (Hill et. al, 1997).…

    • 3724 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Obesity: Who Is at Fault?
    • 3120 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Obesity: Who Is at Fault?

    Jeffery, R., & French, S. (1998). Epidemic obesity in the united states: Are fast foods and…

    • 3120 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Obesity In Australia Essay
    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Obesity In Australia Essay

    Obesity is ranked third for Health Issues in Australia, behind high blood pressure and smoking. It was found that the population of those who are obese is higher in the outer urban areas than the major cities.…

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Obesity In Australia
    • 983 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Obesity In Australia

    According to AIHW individuals who live in outer regional or remote areas are obese than people in major cities. Furthermore, (McArthur, 2016) 11.2 million are obese which is 63.4% of the Australian adult population obese or overweight. They are calling it the Australian obesity epidemic. Live lighter claims that 66.6% of women and 60.3% of men have a higher waist circumference (live…

    • 983 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Obesity Epidemic In Canada
    • 683 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Obesity Epidemic In Canada

    Since the 1980s, the worldwide obesity rate has more than doubled (World Health Organization, 2015). Today, 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 children are diagnosed as clinically obese (WHO, 2015). The global trend of obesity is consistent within Canada, with over 20.2 percent of the adult population classified as obese, which translates to 5.3 million individuals (Statistics Canada, 2014). This striking weight increase over time has developed into what is known as an obesity ‘epidemic’. According to the World Health Organization (2015), obesity is defined as ‘abnormal or excess fat accumulation that may impair health.’ It is classified as a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 or falling within the 95th percentile for their age and gender…

    • 683 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    How To Make A Healthier America Essay
    • 507 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How To Make A Healthier America Essay

    From 1991 to 2000 the average weight of Americans increased by 8.5 pounds- not such a shocking detail. Higher taxes are imposed on healthy foods but not junk foods, making unhealthy foods easier and more convenient to obtain. With this kind of economic “strategy” obesity is to be expected. To encourage healthy eating, higher taxes should be imposed on soft drinks and junk food. This strategy will surely influence a better diet and put America back at number one.…

    • 507 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To what extent is obesity a public health issue
    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To what extent is obesity a public health issue

    We are, according to most public health authorities, in the midst of a pandemic of “globesity”, (global obesity) a term coined by the World Health Organisation in 2001. The question remains whether globesity is a disease itself, a symptom of underlying physiological or psychological illnesses or even a sign of social excess and therefore not a disease in the medical sense at all. This ‘obesity epidemic’ seems to be increasing and many countries have started looking into ways of preventing or slowing down this epidemic by introducing initiatives. For example, in October 2007, the UK Government launched its ‘Tackling Obesities’ project and reported that most adults in the UK were already overweight, and predicted that by 2050 around 60% of men and 50% of women would be clinically obese. It has also been suggested that obesity must have an association with long-term health prospects. The connection between obesity and the risk of ill health has been recognised in Western cultures for at least two thousand years and it first became a noticeable health issue in the USA and recognised as a chronic disease in 1985 by the USA’s National Institutes of Health, although many people disagree with this classification. While it is acknowledged as a public health threat, many prefer to see obesity as a risk factor for other diseases rather than a disease in its own right. It is associations between obesity and serious diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases that have lead obesity to be known as a major killer. Obesity has been defined as having an excess accumulation of body fat (Prentice and Jebb, 2003). It is the excess body fat that creates the most serious health problems.The National Audit Office (1) clearly highlighted the damaging impact obesity has on health: both the impact on the individual - for example, on…

    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    abcdefghijklmnopqr
    • 6087 Words
    • 39 Pages

    abcdefghijklmnopqr

    Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (2004). Chronic Illness: Australia’s Health Challenge. The Economic Case for Physical Activity and Nutrition in…

    • 6087 Words
    • 39 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More

Related Topics