The case study is mainly about the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australia has been steadily increasing over the past 30 years. According to the National Preventative Health Taskforce statistics indicate that from 1990 to 2005, the number of overweight and obese Australian adults increases by 2.8 million, and it is predicted that nearly three-quarters of Australian population will be overweight or obese in 2025. This imbalance is caused by two factors. Firstly, there is an increased intake of energy-dense food that is high in fat; and, secondly, there is an increase in physical inactivity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation and increasing urbanization.
Moreover, according to 2007 statistics from the World Health Organization, Australia has the third-highest prevalence of overweight adults in the English-speaking world. Obesity in Australia is an epidemic with increasing frequency. The most threatening factors for Australian are energy intake and balance. The total amount of food that your body needs depends on your age, sex, body size, level of physical activity and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Your body converts the protein, fat and carbohydrate in food to energy. Fat is the most concentrated source of energy. Energy intake from food varies greatly between individuals. For example, in 2011-12, intake ranged from about 6,000 kilojoules for children aged 2-3 to about 9,000 kilojoules for adolescents aged 14-18. For adults aged 19 and over. The average intake for men was about 10,000 kilojoules and for women was about 7,500 kilojoules. Therefore, the number of kilojoules that intake is essential for controlling weight. In addition, healthy eating and physical activity are important for a healthy active life. Maintaining your weight means balancing the energy going into your body (as food and drink) and the energy being used for growth and repair, for physical activity, and to keep your bodily functions working. An excess energy intake, even a small amount over a long period, will cause weight gain. Children and adolescents need enough nutritious food to grow and develop normally. Older people need to keep physically active and eat nutritious foods to help maintain muscle strength and a healthy weight.