Obesity and health
The Preventative Health Flagship is creating strategies to help Australians manage and avoid obesity and its associated health impacts.
- 23 December 2008 | Updated 14 October 2011
Why does obesity matter?
Australia has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world, with over 7 million adults estimated to be overweight or obese.
The number of obese adults and children significantly increased between 1995 and 2007. It is unclear if obesity rates are still increasing at the same rates, but there is a clear health issue even at present levels.
Obesity increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It also increases the risk of cancers including large bowel cancer, the most common internal cancer in Australia.
What is CSIRO doing about it?
Researchers in CSIRO’s Preventative Health Flagship are developing strategies to tackle these serious, but often preventable, health and medical issues through diet, nutrition and lifestyle programs.
Our multidisciplinary research aims to develop strategies for the effective prevention and management of obesity and related diseases.
Through these strategies we aim to increase general well-being and to reduce health care costs.
The Preventative Health Flagship is:
Contact us
If you are interested in forming research collaborations or commercial partnerships to facilitate the successful development of management programs and translational activities in obesity, contact the Preventative Health Flagship.
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Fast facts
- Over 7 million adult Australians are estimated to be overweight or obese
- Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancers including large bowel cancer
- Our researchers are working on managing and preventing obesity through diet and lifestyle programs, designed food structuring, and therapeutics
