Darling Downs obesity rates continue to remain high across the region

The number of overweight and obese people in the Darling Downs would be enough to pack out Suncorp Stadium, and leave nearly 20,000 waiting outside the grounds.

Darling Downs Health data has revealed that about one third of adults in the region are obese, with less than half of the population getting enough physical activity.

Darling Downs Health executive director Shirley-Anne Gardiner said in 2020 33 per cent of the region’s population self-reported as being obese.

“This equates to 71,000 overweight or obese adults in the Darling Downs, which is 31 per cent higher than the state average,” she said.

“In the 2019-20 year, our region was also reported as having lower than average physical activity.

“Regular physical activity has many benefits including preventing and treating chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, breast and colon cancer. It also helps improve mental health, treats hypertension, and can improve quality of life and wellbeing.”

When it comes to other risk factors, Ms Gardiner said the Darling Downs had seen a reduction in smoking from 2009 to 2020 by 4.7 per cent.

However it’s not all good news, with smoking during pregnancy 41 per cent higher than the Queensland average at 16 per cent.

“This is 571 women. Smoking during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight babies, and our region is 10 per cent higher for this than the rest of Queensland,” she said.

“We have a number of smoking cessation programs in our hospitals, but we also encourage people to reach out to their GP for quitting support.”

Ms Gardiner said one of the priorities of Darling Downs Health was to inspire the community to make healthy lifestyle choices, as well as educate the next generation on the importance of health wellbeing early in life.

“This year we commenced the Healthy Kids program which helps our young people to make better choices when it comes to nutrition and healthy eating choices,” she said.

“We’re also committed to improving health equity for our communities by addressing the socio-economic and cultural determinants of health. The obesity working group that was formed in 2020 is working as a collaborative to address issues of obesity in the Darling Downs.”

Risk factors

According to the Health of Queenslanders 2020 report in the Darling Downs:

• 33 per cent of adults self-reported as obese (71,000 adults).

• 11 per cent of adults smoked daily (24,000 adults)

• 35 per cent of adults consumed alcohol at risky levels (75,000 adults)

• 28 per cent of adults had five or more mentally unhealthy days (61,000 adults)