America isn’t the only place where obesity is an ongoing issue – Aussies are also fighting a battle against eating disorders and health concerns brought on by them. With around 65 percent of the country in the "overweight" category, the concern is pressing and real. And they’re learning at a young age – according to some studies, around 25 percent of children 18 and under are obese.
More patients are showing up at eating disorder clinics seeking assistance for problems that began as a result of being obese. Health officials believe the problem will persist as the percentage of overweight citizens continues to grow.
While the act of becoming obese could be classified as an eating disorder, more and more patients are developing additional disorders as they fight their obesity. These disorders include unsafe dieting to lose weight in an extremely short amount of time. Health officials say that while they fight the eating epidemic they also need to be careful about the message they’re sending, messages that could unintentionally spur problems rather than prevent them.
With nearly one million Australians reportedly dealing with eating disorders, it’s estimated that the problem is a drain on the nation’s economy numbering in the billions of dollars. Worse yet, citizens are dying.
In 2012, nearly 2,000 people are believed to have died as a result of their eating disorder. What’s alarming is that only two years ago, little more than a dozen were reported to have died. That figure is alarming because it’s believed that there is not an accurate reporting system established.
Australians’ most common disorder is binge eating, which is happening among males as often as it is in females. About half of the binge eaters are also obese. Bulimia and anorexia are the second-most common disorder.