December 12th 2024.
According to new data, being overweight or obese is now the leading risk factor for disease, surpassing even tobacco smoking. The Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024, which was released today, reveals that in the year 2024, Australians lost a staggering 5.8 million years of healthy life due to illness, injury, or premature death.
In light of these alarming statistics, the report calls upon the federal government to take action against obesity in order to prevent thousands of hospitalizations. It is estimated that 8.3% of the total disease burden in 2024 was caused by being overweight or obese, a significant increase from previous years.
While tobacco use has long been the leading risk factor, there has been a 41% decline in the total burden attributable to tobacco use between 2003 and 2024, after adjusting for age. This is a promising trend, with Public Health Association of Australia chief executive Professor Terry Slevin noting a 10% decrease in the overall burden of disease in the past 20 years. He credits this progress to the efforts of public health measures in promoting healthier lifestyles and longer lives.
However, despite this progress, tobacco still accounts for 7.6% of the disease burden, highlighting the need for continued efforts in tobacco control. The recent vaping and tobacco legislation, hailed as world-leading by public health experts, is seen as a step in the right direction to protect the health of Australians, especially young people.
The study also reveals that more than one-third of disease and injury cases could be prevented by reducing exposure. Furthermore, males experienced a higher total disease burden than females for most age groups, largely due to higher rates of fatal burden.
Professor Slevin stresses that there is still much work to be done, particularly in the fight against obesity and overweight. He notes that these conditions are now the leading causes of preventable death and disease, accounting for 8.3% and 4.8% of the preventable disease burden, respectively. This includes factors such as excess salt intake, which contributes to high blood pressure.
As we continue to combat these concerning health issues, it is important to stay informed. Downloading the 9News app allows you to stay up-to-date on all the latest news, sports, politics, and weather, with notifications sent directly to your smartphone. The app is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Let us all do our part in promoting a healthier and safer society.
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