Obesity Is The Type Of Disease That Is Infectious

Obesity may not be the type of disease that is infectious. However, it has reached heights of epidemic proportions and poses a public health challenge, not only in Australia but globally. This disease has attained substantial awareness as a major health hazard and can be defined as an unhealthy excess of body fat at which can lead to an increased risk of medical illnesses and also may result in mortality, (Kitzinger Karle, 2013). Since the 1980’s the prevalence of obesity has almost tripled and since 1998 the World Health Organisation has recognised the state of obesity as a situation on prevalent quantities. Predictions have been made that if the increase of obesity continues, a vast majority of the world’s population will be overweight†¦show more content†¦However, in the late 1970’s only 32 percent of adults, between the ages of 27 and 74 years were overweight and 15 percent were obese, (Office of the Surgeon General (U.S), 2001). In the United State s, of the year 2000, obesity caused the death of over 400,000 adults, a 33 percent increase since 1999. Overweight and obesity can lead to unpleasant metabolic effects with blood pressure, cholesterol, insulin resistance and triglycerides. There is also risk of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke. An increased body mass index (BMI), (a measure of weight relative to height†, (WHO, 2015)) can escalate the risk of cancer of the breast, prostate, kidney, gall bladder, prostate or colon, (WHO, 2015). Obesity is a huge factor that is adding to the worldwide crisis of disability and chronic disease and although obesity-associated morbidities occur most frequently in adults this disease occurs also in childhood and adolescents. Children that are have severe weight issues, (i.e. overweight or obesity) is a major concern to their health, (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2009). Obesity is difficult to address within society as most habits are formed during childhood and recent studies have shown that those who suffer from obesity during their childhood show tendencies of staying obese through their adolescence and in their adulthood, (Office of the Surgeon