Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. Summary: New research explains how poor maternal nutrition passes health risk across generations. The new science of epigenetics explains how genes can be modified by the environment: You are what your mother did not eat during pregnancy.
A 2005 WHO study found that just over 20% of Australian adults are obese, which is expected to rise to roughly 29% in 2010 if current trends continue. In the 2005 National Health Survey, 53.6% of Australians reported being overweight (above a 25 BMI), with 18% falling into the obese category (above a 30 BMI).n 2005, a study was conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that compared the results of a 2004-05 survey with those conducted in the preceding 15 years. The results showed an increase in the number and proportion of adults who are overweight or obese.
Prior to this however, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and the Centre for Health Program Evaluation (CHPE) have estimated that the direct cost of obesity in Australia in 1989-90 was $464 million. This is around 2% of Australiaâs total health care costs.Indirect costs (value of production lost to premature death and absenteeism) were further estimated to be another $272 million, bringing the total cost in 1989-90 to $736 million.his is around 2% of Australiaâs total health care costs. Indirect costs (value of production lost to premature death and absenteeism) were further estimated to be another $272 million, bringing the total cost in 1989-90 to $736 million.