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Food for Thought!

New data shows the proportion of Australian men who are overweight or obese jumped from 52 per cent to 62 per cent during the past decade and overweight or obese women from 37 per cent to 45 per cent.

50% of men who think they are an acceptable weight are actually overweight or obese, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' National Health Survey, released yesterday. Women are also sticking their heads in the sand. About 25% of those who consider themselves an acceptable size are overweight.

The implication for the community are enormous. Health economist Paul Gross is quoted as saying that obesity and related diseases and lost productivity cost the country about $11 billion a year.

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