Diabetes and obesity costs blowing out
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Blowing out: New figures say 17 per cent of Australians are obese (www.sxc.hu: Matthias Gelinski)
Health economists predict more than 4.5 million Australians will be obese by the year 2025, imposing a significant economic cost on the nation.
An Access Economics reports says obesity is currently costing the nation $58 billion a year.
The report has found 17 per cent of the Australian population is obese, and as result, more than 200,000 Australians now have type 2 diabetes.
The diabetes figure has increased by 137 per cent over the last two years.
Access Economics' Lynne Pezzullo says that because diabetes often results in other health conditions such as heart disease and cancers, the medical costs are around $8 billion each year.
The flow-on cost to the workforce and Australian economy is about $45 billion.
Ms Pezzullo says the number of obese Australians will jump to 4.6 million by 2025.
The report was commissioned by Diabetes Australia.
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