More awareness needed on health risks of obesity

The number of people with obesity has been steadily increasing over the last few decades, with 63% of the Australian adult population now classed as overweight or obese.

This can have negative health effects such as an increased risk of cancer, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

According to research published by the Sax Institute in the journal Public Health Research & Practice, it is estimated that 3917 cancer cases (3.4% of all cancers) diagnosed in 2010 could be attributed to overweight/obesity, 7089 (6.1%) to inadequate diet and 1814 (1.6%) to inadequate physical activity.