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The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australia is increasing. Recent studies estimate that more than half of all Australian women (52%) and two-thirds of men (67%) are overweight or obese. That is, almost 60% of the adult population in Australia is overweight or obese. Over the last 20 years, obesity rates in children have risen greatly in many countries around the world – what can be referred to as an internal epidemic of childhood obesity. Rates of childhood obesity in Australia are at one of the highest amongst developed nations. 25% of Australian children are currently overweight or obese, a huge jump from 5% in the 1960s. References: • Australian Bureau of Statistics. • Cameron AJ, Welborn TA, Zimmet PZ, Dunstan DW, Owen N, Salmon J et al. Overweight and obesity in Australia: the 1999-2000 Australian diabetes, obesity and lifestyle study (AusDiab). Medical Journal of Australia, 2003; 178: 427-432. • NSW Health. For further information and prevalence data, please refer to th
