Australia is ranked the 11th biggest-spending fast food nation on earth
Fast food or junk food is subject to the main reason causing obesity in Australia. Australia is one of the most developed nation, with 60% of adults and one in four children overweight or obese.
The prevalence of obesity and overweight has been steadily increasing over the last 30 years.
AUSTRALIA is expected to spend more than $37 billion on takeaway food this year, making the 11th biggest-spending fast food nation on earth.
The figure - the equivalent of 343 Whopper burgers for every man, woman and child in the country - is an increase of $4 billion in just three years.
And our love affair with lard-laden tucker shows no sign of abating. Traffic to Australian fast food joints increased between three and seven per cent in 2010 - more than the US or Canada.
The data from global research company Euromonitor coincides with anAustralian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) snapshot of obesity in Australia released today that shows one in four Australians aged over 18 were obese in 2007/2008.
The numbers echo World Health Organisation figures that put us as the 39th fattest nation on earth and come as no surprise to Jane Martin, a senior policy adviser with the Obesity Policy Coalition.
Australia now has more than 1250 Subways, 845 Domino's, 780 McDonald's and 300 Hungry Jacks and 600 KFCs here and in New Zealand.
All are contributing to our weighty problem through a combination of the growing number of outlets, increased marketing budgets and affordability for cash-strapped families
National crisis
In Sydney, 57 per cent of people are overweight or obese, compared to 67 per cent in other areas.
In Victoria, 58 per cent of people are overweight or obese (68 per cent in the regions); in Queensland it’s 55.7 per cent (Brisbane) and 65 per cent (regions); Tasmania, 59 per cent (Hobart) and 67 per cent (regions); Northern Territory, 58 per cent (Darwin) and 64 per cent (regions).
The biggest difference is in Western Australia, where 59 per cent of people are overweight or obese in Perth, but 72 per cent in the regions. In South Australia, 61.5 per cent are fat, regardless of where they live.
"We are consuming too many kilojoules, and many of the extra kilojoules come from energy dense (high fat/sugar) foods," Ms Martin said.
"In 2007, nearly 17,000 Australian fast food outlets served approximately 1.64 billion fast food or take away meals. People are increasingly eating out of the home, and a large proportion (44 per cent) of meals served out of the home are fast food."
The number presented by Echo World Health Organization ranks Australia is one of the fattest nations on earth with the hight consumption of fast food.
The latest figures presented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reveal a quarter of Australians are obese. Obviously, the high rate of obese man levels at 25.5% in comparation to woman 23.5%.
A recent studies has revealsed by consumer watch dog Choice, Holding the dubious distinction of being the worst fast food choice in Australia is Hungry Jack's Ultimate Double Whopper.
The Ultimate Double Whopper which consists of two patties also contains a whopping 80g of fat, 5085 kilojoules and 2386mg of sodium. Eating one Ultimate Double Whopper will account for more than 60 per cent of an adult's daily recommended kilojoule intake. It would take about one and a half hours of jogging just to burn off one burger.
Red Rooster's Free Range Garden Salad offered the best choice for health conscious consumers eating in a fast food. It only has 479 kilojoules and is the healthiest option from all the fast food choices.
Choice is advocating that the kilojoules value of fast food items should be shown on restaurant menus by February 2012. The country's growing obesity problem has forced the consumer watchdog to think of better ways to inform customers to eat healthier.
The Choice investigation sampled menus from a variety of fast food places like McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Subway, Red Rooster, Hungry Jacks and Oporto. Given that the suggested daily intake for an average adult is 8700Kj, 70g fat and 2300 mg of sodium, most of these fast food places all provide high fat options for its consumers. Hungry Jack's had the first and second worst menu items in Australia, with the Ultimate Double Whopper and the Angry Angus burger both at number one and number two respectively.
Pizza lovers should also be aware that two slices of Domino's Meatball and Rasher Bacon Edge Pizza or Pizza Hut's Deep Pan BBQ Meat Lovers pizza will provide more than 2000Kj of an adult's recommended daily intake.
Choice spokeswoman Ingrid Just warned consumers to be aware of what they are putting in their bodies by eating at fast food restaurants.
"When you add chips and a soft drink to something like the Ultimate Double Whopper, you're consuming a day's worth of kilojoules in one meal. It's a safe bet not many of us would realize that."
The prevalence of obesity and overweight has been steadily increasing over the last 30 years.
AUSTRALIA is expected to spend more than $37 billion on takeaway food this year, making the 11th biggest-spending fast food nation on earth.
The figure - the equivalent of 343 Whopper burgers for every man, woman and child in the country - is an increase of $4 billion in just three years.
And our love affair with lard-laden tucker shows no sign of abating. Traffic to Australian fast food joints increased between three and seven per cent in 2010 - more than the US or Canada.
The data from global research company Euromonitor coincides with anAustralian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) snapshot of obesity in Australia released today that shows one in four Australians aged over 18 were obese in 2007/2008.
The numbers echo World Health Organisation figures that put us as the 39th fattest nation on earth and come as no surprise to Jane Martin, a senior policy adviser with the Obesity Policy Coalition.
Australia now has more than 1250 Subways, 845 Domino's, 780 McDonald's and 300 Hungry Jacks and 600 KFCs here and in New Zealand.
All are contributing to our weighty problem through a combination of the growing number of outlets, increased marketing budgets and affordability for cash-strapped families
National crisis
In Sydney, 57 per cent of people are overweight or obese, compared to 67 per cent in other areas.
In Victoria, 58 per cent of people are overweight or obese (68 per cent in the regions); in Queensland it’s 55.7 per cent (Brisbane) and 65 per cent (regions); Tasmania, 59 per cent (Hobart) and 67 per cent (regions); Northern Territory, 58 per cent (Darwin) and 64 per cent (regions).
The biggest difference is in Western Australia, where 59 per cent of people are overweight or obese in Perth, but 72 per cent in the regions. In South Australia, 61.5 per cent are fat, regardless of where they live.
"We are consuming too many kilojoules, and many of the extra kilojoules come from energy dense (high fat/sugar) foods," Ms Martin said.
"In 2007, nearly 17,000 Australian fast food outlets served approximately 1.64 billion fast food or take away meals. People are increasingly eating out of the home, and a large proportion (44 per cent) of meals served out of the home are fast food."
The number presented by Echo World Health Organization ranks Australia is one of the fattest nations on earth with the hight consumption of fast food.
The latest figures presented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reveal a quarter of Australians are obese. Obviously, the high rate of obese man levels at 25.5% in comparation to woman 23.5%.
A recent studies has revealsed by consumer watch dog Choice, Holding the dubious distinction of being the worst fast food choice in Australia is Hungry Jack's Ultimate Double Whopper.
The Ultimate Double Whopper which consists of two patties also contains a whopping 80g of fat, 5085 kilojoules and 2386mg of sodium. Eating one Ultimate Double Whopper will account for more than 60 per cent of an adult's daily recommended kilojoule intake. It would take about one and a half hours of jogging just to burn off one burger.
Red Rooster's Free Range Garden Salad offered the best choice for health conscious consumers eating in a fast food. It only has 479 kilojoules and is the healthiest option from all the fast food choices.
Choice is advocating that the kilojoules value of fast food items should be shown on restaurant menus by February 2012. The country's growing obesity problem has forced the consumer watchdog to think of better ways to inform customers to eat healthier.
The Choice investigation sampled menus from a variety of fast food places like McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Subway, Red Rooster, Hungry Jacks and Oporto. Given that the suggested daily intake for an average adult is 8700Kj, 70g fat and 2300 mg of sodium, most of these fast food places all provide high fat options for its consumers. Hungry Jack's had the first and second worst menu items in Australia, with the Ultimate Double Whopper and the Angry Angus burger both at number one and number two respectively.
Pizza lovers should also be aware that two slices of Domino's Meatball and Rasher Bacon Edge Pizza or Pizza Hut's Deep Pan BBQ Meat Lovers pizza will provide more than 2000Kj of an adult's recommended daily intake.
Choice spokeswoman Ingrid Just warned consumers to be aware of what they are putting in their bodies by eating at fast food restaurants.
"When you add chips and a soft drink to something like the Ultimate Double Whopper, you're consuming a day's worth of kilojoules in one meal. It's a safe bet not many of us would realize that."