Frequently asked questions about obesity

This is a very common question and you will get different answers depending on who you ask. In 2013, the American Medical Association¹ voted to categorise obesity as a disease. Since then, the Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS)² and many other organisations around the world have classified obesity as a disease.

However, the Australian Government and the Australian Medical Association have shied away from labelling obesity as a disease, telling the ABC’s Fact Check website that there would be costs involved if it was officially a disease³.

We believe obesity is a disease. By labelling it as a disease it helps reduce the stigma and discrimination that many experience. The debate continues.

Australians live on average 2.7 years less because of being overweight.

Overweight reduces Australia’s GDP by 3.1%.

Overweight accounts for 8.6% of Australia’s health expenditure.

To cover these costs, each Australian pays an additional AUD 678 in taxes per year.

Our labour market outputs are lowered by the equivalent of 371 thousand full-time workers per year.

Many people with obesity also struggle with mental health. Stigma and discrimination in many areas of your life can lead you to using food as a coping mechanism, which can increase your weight.

Studies have found that you’re more likely to be depressed if you have obesity. People with depression are more likely to become obese⁶.

People with obesity are at higher risk of developing several health conditions, including some types of cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnoea⁷.

These conditions can reduce your enjoyment of life and, even sometimes, lead to death.

A doctor will usually check your weight and height and then determine your Body Mass Index (BMI). It’s a very general measure that helps put you into a weight category: underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. ^{8 9 10}