Junk food feeds regional obesity
The first study to break down the incidence of obesity in local areas shows almost 80 per cent of Australian adults, 8 in 10, are overweight or obese.
Rates are higher in some remote communities with a lower socioeconomic status, according to the study by the National Health Performance Authority.
The Council of Australian Governments asked the authority to report rates of smoking, obesity and overweight by Medicare Local regions, the 61 organisations set up by the former Labor government to plan and co-ordinate primary care.
Height and weight is measured to produce a BMI, body mass index, and a range set to determine obesity and overweight.
The Authority's colour-coded map shows most cities in the lower range of obesity, but even in the area with the lowest rates - Sydney's North Shore - half of all people were obese or overweight
Rates were highest in the Loddon-Mallee-Murray region, where 41 per cent of people are obese.
The Authority's Jessica Stewart says the report breaks down local areas and groups them into those of similar socioeconomic status, and also regional and remoteness.
'This is the first time that it's been reported at a local level...state and Territory and national figures camouflage the issue...this allows GPs and health professionals to target programs for their community,' she said.
Rachelle Foreman of the Heart Foundation Queensland said the first national survey of nutrition in Australia in 20 years is currently being analysed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for release in the first quarter of 2014.
'I suspect again it will be very telling what people are eating, and it will help to inform public debate and public policy as to where we have to invest our energies to turn the tide,' she said.
'I suspect that what the data are going to show is that people are eating a lot of processed food, they're eating a lot of fast food, they're drinking...a lot of sugar sweetened beverages..and the fruit and particularly vegetable consumption will be a lot lower.
'What we know is that fruit and vegetable consumption...helps displace other food from their diet, because they're full.'
The Heart Foundation Queensland found that the Central Highlands area is the 'fast food capital' of Queensland, after an analysis of outlet prevalence based on population.
The tourist meccas of the Gold Coast (3rd), Whitsunday (5th) and Cairns (11th place) also have high numbers of fast food outlets.
Ms Foreman says the average Queenslander ate out four times a week, mainly at fast food chains, and it was contributing to the state's obesity epidemic.
"When these fast food outlets are on every second street corner - we have a problem," Ms Foreman said.
The figures cover 11 major fast food chains in 34 of the state's most populous local government areas.
She said it was time for a tough discussion about actions such as taxing sugary drinks, making kilojoule labelling on menus in fast food restaurants mandatory and limiting the spread of fast food outlets through land use planning, including signage regulation.
The major fast food chains used for the analysis were: McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, KFC, Dominos, Pizza Hut, Eagle Boys, Red Rooster, Nandos, Subway, Oporto and Donut King.
More information about these statistics can be found at my healthy communities
Jessica Stewart, Director of healthy communities, National Health Performance Authority
Rachelle Foreman, Director of health, Heart Foundation Queensland.
Producer: Greg Muller