Oz Tops US As World's Fattest

26% of Australians obese, to 25% of Americans; 9M of Aussies too heavy
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 20, 2008 5:02 PM CDT
Oz Tops US As World's Fattest
An overweight man walks through Sydney's Martin Place as a new report revealed that nearly half of the population in a sporting and health conscious country, are now too fat.   (Getty Images)

Australia is the fattest nation in the world, the Age reports. A new study says body-mass index measurements pegs 4 million people—26% of the nation's population—as obese, narrowly beating the US, where 25% are obese. An additional 5 million Aussies are classified as overweight—with the usual suspects of more fast food and less exercise behind the epidemic.

The study describes a looming “fat bomb” as obesity cuts lifespans and inflates health costs: "In terms of a public health crisis, there is nothing to rival this," the study's lead author said. "If we ran a fat Olympics we'd be gold medal winners as the fattest people on earth at the moment." (More Australia stories.)

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