the impact of overweight and obesity on australias health status

Question 1

overweight and obesity

Answer 1

relates to carrying excess body weight that negatively impacts health and wellbeing

Question 2

body mass index (BMI)

Answer 2

a statistical measure of body mass calculated by dividing weight (in kilograms) by height (in m2)
used for classifying overweight and obesity

Question 3

bmi classifications

Answer 3

• under 18.5 => underweight
• 18.6-24.9 => healthy weight
• 25-29.9 => overweight
• 30 and over => obese

Question 4

bmi as an indicator

Answer 4

• doesnt take fat distribution into account
• those with a higher proportion of abdominal fat are more at risk of disease and illness compared to those with a lower proportion of abdominal fat

Question 5

obesity leads to

Answer 5

• asthma
• some cancers
• cardiovascular disease
• mental health issues
• dementia
• type-2 diabetes
• maternal health conditions
• chronic kidney disease
• osteoarthritis

Question 6

overweight/obestiy - cardiovascular disease

Answer 6

• excess weight causes greater strain on the heart
• increased risk of hypertension and high bp, heart attack and stroke
• can mean cholesterol levels are elevated which increases the risk of atherosclerosis

Question 7

overweight/obesity - kidney disease

Answer 7

• increases the risk of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes which are two significant risk factors for kidney disease
• the extra weight causes the kidneys to work harder and filter wastes above a normal level which can lead to kidney disease

Question 8

overweight/obesity - type 2 diabetes

Answer 8

• fat cells release a type of fatty acid into the blood stream that is thought to lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes

Question 9

overweight/obesity - osteoarthritis

Answer 9

• extra weight puts more pressure on joints which can contribute to osteoarthritis which is characterised by cartilage between joints being worn down.
• cartilage cushions the bones so when broken down it can cause the bones to rub together, causing pain
• usually gets worse over time and often leads to reduced functioning such as the inability tor write walk or stand
• common in knees, back, neck, hips, fingers

Question 10

overweight/obesity - asthma

Answer 10

• children who are overweight/obese have a greater risk of developing asthma than children with a healthy body weight
• inflammatory substances released by fat tissue may impair lung function and lead to asthma

Question 11

overweight/obesity - mental health issues

Answer 11

• can contribute to conditions such as anxiety and depression especially to younger age groups

Question 12

overweight/obesity - dementia

Answer 12

• the inflammation caused by excess weight can contribute to reduced brain function and dementia.
• damaged blood vessels occur in many people who are overweight/obese and can contribute to reduced blood flow to the brain, which can lead to dementi

Question 13

overweight/obesity - maternal health conditions

Answer 13

• overweight/obese women are more at risk for high blood pressure + gestational diabetes
• overweight/obesity is also a risk factor for maternal mortality

Question 14

overweight/obesity - cancer

Answer 14

• fat cells send signals out to the rest of the body which can lead to inflammation and higher levels of growth hormone being released
• both result in a higher rate of cell division which increases the risk of these new cells being cancerous