Alarming figures

More than 50% of Austrians are overweight

(Bild: Kurhan/stock.adobe.com)

The Obesity Alliance and the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) are sounding the alarm: currently, more than half of adults and around a quarter of children and adolescents in Austria are overweight or obese. Men are particularly frequently affected.

Specifically, 41 percent of men in Austria are overweight (body mass index/BMI 25 to 29) and 18 percent are obese (BMI 30 and over), with the incidence increasing with age. The proportion of women is slightly lower, with 27% overweight and 15% obese.

Already problematic at primary school age
However, the health problem already starts with the youngest children: more than 31% of boys and 29% of girls are overweight or obese at the age of nine. "As a society, we simply cannot afford to allow a chronic illness to affect ever larger sections of the population," warned Andreas Huss, Deputy Chairman of the ÖGK.

Disease with many secondary conditions
"Obesity is a very stressful disease for the people affected and for society, which leads to many secondary diseases and reduced quality of life early on in life," he explained. Prevention is therefore extremely important, as is improving health literacy with regard to diet, exercise and mental health. Politicians and the food industry also have a role to play. "Highly processed and disease-causing foods must be clearly labeled. Because there is no such thing as a healthy chocolate bar," said Huss.

Obesity is a very stressful disease for the people affected and for society, which leads to many secondary diseases and reduced quality of life early in life.

Andreas Huss, Obmann-Stellvertreter der ÖGK

Bild: APA/HANS PUNZ

"Obesity is a chronic disease in whose development and progression many different factors interact. These include lifestyle aspects such as diet and exercise, but also genetic factors in around 70 percent of those affected," explained physician Florian Kiefer. In addition to stigmatization and psychological consequences, there are secondary diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, increased blood pressure, increased blood lipid levels, heart attacks, strokes and dementia, reported the President of the Austrian Obesity Alliance.

Enormous impact on the healthcare system
The personal consequences for those affected are serious, but also for society, the economy and the healthcare system. For example, OECD forecasts for Europe show that obesity will reduce Austria's GDP by an average of 2.5 percent per year between 2020 and 2050. This also includes indirect costs such as sick leave and early retirement. ÖGK offers the "Leichter Leben" program for adults and "Leichter Leben - Kids & Teens".