Good Nutrition and Weight Control the Key To A Healthy Life

Dr Haikerwal made the comments during the Federal AMA's 13^th Family Doctor Week (FDW). The theme this year is GPs are Lifesavers.

Dr Haikerwal said the rate of obesity is on the rise in Australia with half of all Australian adults weighing in overweight or obese.

"Around a third of children are overweight or obese. If current trends continue half of all young Australians will be overweight by 2025," Dr Haikerwal said.

"With the very public battle against obesity there's been a rise in the number of fad diets and weight loss programs.

"But it's really important that people get good information before starting a new eating plan and the family GP can provide support and advice.

"Different diets suit different people. It's important to enjoy what you eat - that way you're more likely to stick to a diet. A diet needs to be sustainable in the long term. Your family doctor can help you sort out what will suit your needs best.

"Not all diets and eating regimes are supported by scientific evidence, so it's important that people also get help to wade through the information and sort fact from fiction.

"A recent comparison of popular diets, including Atkins, The Zone and Weight Watchers, shows these programs can certainly help people lose weight, but only if they stick to the regime for a sustained period of time.

"Some diets include very strict eating plans with very little variety. It's no wonder people have trouble going the distance.

"Some diets are quite complex, and depend on in-depth knowledge for their success. Popular low carbohydrate diets are a good example. Some people have lost weight but others find the diet difficult to stick to," Dr Haikerwal said.

Survey results published in the Medical Journal of Australia showed that many people were not able to identify all carbohydrate rich foods, not realising that soft drinks, alcohol, lollies and cheese could be classified as carbohydrates.

Facts

• 2.4 million adult Australians are obese (16 per cent men; 17 per cent women) - Body Mass Index (BMI) 30 and above
• additional 4.9 million Australian adults are overweight with BMI above 25, but below 30 (42 per cent men; 25 per cent women)
• Waist circumference is an independent risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and other health problems
• 27 per cent of men and 34 per cent of women over 25 in Australia are abdominally obese (waste circumference of more than 102cm in men and 88cm in women) in 2000
• Additional 28 per cent of men and 22 per cent of women are abdominally overweight (waist circumference of more than 94cm in men and 80cm in women).

2001 National Household Survey - Australia's Health 2004 (AIHW)

• Childhood obesity in Australia has been estimated to be rising at an annual rate of 1 per cent, meaning half of all young Australia's will be overweight by the year 2025
• 14.3 per cent of boys and 16.4 girls (ages 2-14) were overweight
• additional 3.7 per cent of boys and 5.6 per cent of girls considered to be obese.

National Nutrition Survey - Australia's Children 2005 (AIHW)

"People should be eating more fresh fruit and vegies and fewer packaged foods, which are often very high in fats, salt and sugars," Dr Haikerwal said.

"And people wanting to lose weight should be doing more regular exercise, but start slowly and work up to more rigorous activities.

"As a rule, most things in moderation," Dr Haikerwal said.

There will be a range of FDW activities co-ordinated out of the Federal and State AMA offices. For more details call Kristen Connell on 02 6270 5439 or 0409 070 346. An image of this year's FDW poster is available on the AMA's website www.ama.com.au.

The AMA's 2005 Family Doctor Week is supported by American Express.

22 July 2005

CONTACT: Judith Tokley, AMA Public Affair (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306

Kristen Connell, AMA GP Department (02) 6270 5439 / (0409) 070 346