Why has there been such a dramatic rise in obesity rates in Australia?

Question

.......could it have something to do with an obsession with helmet wearing? I wouldn't be so keen on cycling if compelled to wear a helmet (vehicles give cyclists less space if they're wearing helmets).

Answer 1

Ok Iggy, speed down a hill and throw yourself face first off your bike and don't wear a helmet, then try it again with one on and see which one causes less brain damage, don't forget to collect your teeth off the road.

Answer 2

You've hit the nail on the head. Average weight's have gone up because people are not taking off their helmets when they weigh themselves. It has nothing to do with the fact that most Australians are greedy, lazy, self-indulgent, uninformed slobs.

Answer 3

Yeah apparently now we are the number 1 fatties in the world, even more than the U.S.

I think there are many reasons.

laziness

not exercising

increasing availability of junk foods

increasing pressure to 'upsize' at take away venues

poor parenting

lack of education

too much junk food advertising

busier, faster lifestyles -we work work work and then have no time for a traditional sit down meal with the kids

the biggest one in my opinion is the PRICE of 'healthy' foods. Just yesterday i was down the street and wanted a chicken/salad wrap but they were $6.95 and i couldn't afford it so i bought 3 friend dim sims which was a h**l of a lot cheaper at $2.40..

Answer 4

I know I've put on some weight ever since I found Yahoo Answers.

I spend far too much time sitting here answering questions like this.

I should be moving around doing stuff.

Just my opinion but I don't think the obesity of our nation has anything to do with wearing bike helmets.

You don't need a bike helmet to ride an exercise bike, to walk around the block or to participate in most other forms of exercise.

If you take in more kilojoules than you burn you will get fat.

Answer 5

It's happening in the US too. As far as I'm concerned, the causes over here are fast food and lack of exercise. This lifestyle is brought forth by the amazing conviences of modern technology.

Answer 6

Well fast food hasn't been in Australia for as long as it has been in North America. People born in the late 60's were the first to really experience chains like McDonalds. Then, their children were the first to grow up with fast food ads inbetween their weekend cartoons, disgustingly and blatantly aimed at young children.

Now that that first 'commercially brainwashed' generation is in their mid to late 20's and early 30's the numbers of a whole generation of fatties are causing statisticians to notice a sudden increase in average wieght in Australia. That is why it's on the news.

Answer 7

It is the increase in convenience and fast foods. Yes we have had fast food outlets for a long time but there are just so many of them these days. Plus we live in a materialistic world where working to buy the latest gadgets eats into the time where we should be exercising. How often do parents have the time to kick a footy about or just play in the park with their kids each day? Not to mention taking them to sport and sports practice. It is so much easier to give the kid a computer game of some sort to keep them busy while you come home from work late with take away meals.

Answer 8

MacDonalds

KFC

Burger King

and the myriad of greasy take away shops in Australia

Answer 9

How's this for a theory:

> Weight gain is a common symptom of depression.

> Depression affects an increasing number of Australians each year, as it does people in all western countries.

> People are getting depressed because of all the media attention on how fat they are and how that's going to make them die sooner.

> As people get more depressed they get fatter which makes them more depressed which makes them fatter which makes the media carry on about obesity more which makes people more depressed which makes people fatter.

And so on.