Prevalence of obesity in Australia.

Australia is a large country approximately equal in area to mainland United States. The relatively small population of around 20 million are composed primarily of Caucasians. Extensive immigration from many different countries has made Australia one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world. Indigenous Australians make up only 2.4% of the total population. Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, and spends approximately 830 million dollars on the direct health care costs of obesity. For Australians, it is now more common to have a weight problem, with overweight affecting 48% of men and 30% of women and obesity affecting a further 19% of men and 22% of women. This paper reports on recent epidemiological studies documenting the extent of overweight and obesity in adults and children in Australia.