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Half of Australian Children Projected to Be Overweight or Obese by 2050, Study Finds

A global analysis highlights alarming trends in childhood obesity, calling for systemic policy changes to address obesogenic environments.

  • A new study predicts that 50% of Australian children and adolescents will be overweight or obese by 2050, with one-third classified as obese.
  • Researchers emphasize that the rise in obesity is driven by systemic factors, such as environments promoting unhealthy lifestyles, rather than individual choices.
  • The study, using global BMI data, also forecasts that a third of children worldwide will be overweight or obese by mid-century, reflecting a broader global epidemic.
  • Experts recommend policy interventions, including taxes on sugary drinks, stricter food marketing regulations, and subsidies for healthier food options, to counteract the trend.
  • Critics of the study caution against over-reliance on BMI as a metric and warn of the negative impacts of weight stigma on mental health and healthcare access.
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