What does it mean to be overweight or obese?
Being overweight or obese is when you have too much body fat that can hurt your health. It is caused by an imbalance between the amount of food and calories going into your body and the amount of energy you put out (by exercising, being generally active etc.).
In Australia (2017-2018), 25% of all children and 67% of all adults were overweight or obese.
How did I become overweight or obese?
Many things can influence body weight. Some of these things can be controlled, and some cannot.
Things that can be controlled or changed:
- An unhealthy diet – foods high in fat, salt and sugar
- Smoking tobacco
- Regular alcohol intake
- Being inactive – little to no exercise
- High cholesterol – the buildup in your arteries make it harder for blood to be pushed through them.
Things that cannot be controlled:
- Family history of being overweight and obese
- Getting older
- Where people live, go to school or work
- Having a disability
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are more likely to be overweight or obese than non-Indigenous Australians.
