The overweight and obesity epidemic is having a huge impact in Queensland. In 2000 a study was held which professionally measured Queensland men and women. The study found:

• 20 per cent of adult men in Queensland were obese and another 47 per cent were overweight
• 24 per cent of adult women in Queensland were obese and another 27 per cent were overweight

For Queensland, this means there are at least 650,000 adults who are obese and 25,000 children (aged 5-17) who are obese⁽²⁾.

The number of obese children is particularly worrying as type 2 diabetes was once considered an adult disease but it is now occurring in obese Queensland children as young as five years old. About 8000 young Queenslanders are now at risk of the complications of type 2 diabetes due to overweight and obesity.

The overweight and obesity epidemic is having a huge impact in Queensland. In 2000 a study was held which professionally measured Queensland men and women. The study found:

• 20 per cent of adult men in Queensland were obese and another 47 per cent were overweight
• 24 per cent of adult women in Queensland were obese and another 27 per cent were overweight

For Queensland, this means there are at least 650,000 adults who are obese and 25,000 children (aged 5-17) who are obese⁽²⁾.

The number of obese children is particularly worrying as type 2 diabetes was once considered an adult disease but it is now occurring in obese Queensland children as young as five years old. About 8000 young Queenslanders are now at risk of the complications of type 2 diabetes due to overweight and obesity.