Obesity 'driving up disease deaths'

Post Reply New Topic

ALMOST 11,000 Australians die each year from heart disease and other illnesses linked to being obese or overweight, research shows.

The study, by the University of Queensland's Centre for Burden of Disease and Cost Effectiveness, evaluated the role of excess weight in deaths linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis and breast, bowel and endometrial cancer.
Based on 2003 figures, it found excess weight accounted for 7.9 per cent of those deaths, or up to 10,500 lives.

Of the deaths, 7000 were due to cardiovascular disease, with a further 2000 due to diabetes.
....

In a move that reflects a worldwide shift in healthcare towards helping people to change their behaviour before they develop diseases, insurance companies will be able to pay for gym membership and quit-smoking programs as part of their basic private hospital cover.
...
The expanded cover will include doctor-approved fitness programs and health plans to manage diseases such as diabetes through lifestyle changes.