Obesity: all roads lead to parents

Australia’s waistline is bulging. And its price has now reached super-sized proportions, costing the country more and more each year.

Latest statistics from Diabetes Australia reveal obesity is a $58 billion a year burden, up from $21 billion just three years ago.

New figures detailing the number of people with type II diabetes is also confronting with a 137 per cent increase from 2005. It is interesting to note how society has come to accept this so called "epidemic".

There is no denying society is becoming sicker and sicker each year. It is worrying, but also frustrating for health authorities as type II diabetes can easily be prevented.

It seems the days of fit and healthy children drinking milk in school yards have vanished. Nowadays the playgrounds are filled with overweight children, scoffing on chocolate bars, packets of chips and various other junk foods.

Parents need to step-up and take responsibility for their children’s diets to give them the best chance to be healthy later in life.

When I was growing up, it was an extremely rare treat to buy a pizza from a fast-food chain. But in today’s society, where laziness is stopping many people from preparing fresh food in their homes, fast-food is a large part of many household diets.

When I worked for one particular chicken fast food outlet during my high school years, it only took a few weeks before I was well acquainted with many of the regular customers. These parents would let their children, some as young as four-years-old, select anything they wanted from the menu, no matter how fatty or unhealthy their food choices would be. Then they would encourage their children to go to the fridge and guzzle down soft drink and top off their meals with an unhealthy dessert.

In the latest State Government advertisement to curb domestic violence, it revolves around the concept of children see what parents do. This same concept applies when it comes food choices.
And with so many cancers now linked to obesity, it is time many people seriously consider their daily eating habits and if it will eventually kill them.

Cancer Council Queensland executive manager Anne Savage says obesity causes colon cancer and post-menopausal breast cancer.

“A high body mass accounts for 3.9 per cent of the total cancer burden and causes and estimated 7.5 per cent of the total burden of disease and injury in Australia which is really significant,” Ms Savage says.

When the risks are so high, but the cure so simple, why risk a shortened life?

By Brenton Garen.