The burden and cost of excess body mass in Western Australian adults and children
14 May 2020
Excess body mass resulting from the accumulation of fat mass increases the risk of a range of chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, several types of cancer, and is an important cause of preventable illness and premature death. Excess body mass therefore causes significant personal, health care, and societal costs.
If population levels of overweight and obesity continue to climb, it is projected that the cost to the WA health system will increase by 80 per cent in the decade between 2016 and 2026.