Generation X is already on the path to
becoming more obese than their baby boomer predecessors.
Studies
show that boomers currently have the highest level of obesity of any age group
in Australia. However, new research by University of Adelaide PhD student
Rhiannon Pilkington has revealed some alarming statistics. As part of her
research, she has compared obesity levels between the two generations at
equivalent ages.
Using
data from the National Health Survey, Ms Pilkington compared Generation X in
2008 to boomers at the same age, in 1989.
"This
comparison paints a very poor picture of Generation X. It gives rise to major
concerns for the future health of Gen X and Australia's ability to cope with
that burden," says Ms Pilkington, who is conducting her research in the
University's Population Research & Outcome Studies group, School of
Medicine.
"At
the same age, Gen X males have nearly double the prevalence of obesity: 18.3%
compared with 9.4% for boomers. There is a smaller but still significant
difference in females, with 12.7% of Gen X women being obese in 2008 and 10.4%
of boomer females obese in 1989.
"This
does not bode well for the future health of Generation X," she says.
Ms
Pilkington's research covers the health status and health behaviours of Gen X
and baby boomers, and the major role the workplace has to play in their health.
"Boomers
and Gen X together make up more than 75% of Australia's workforce. Their health
and the role of the workplace in promoting a healthy, or unhealthy, environment
is of critical importance to the Australian economy, to society and to people's
quality of life," Ms Pilkington says.
"Obesity
has become the new smoking - it's a major driver of ill health, with coronary
heart disease and type 2 diabetes highest on the list of preventable illnesses.
Obesity also costs billions of dollars to our economy each year. Anything we
can do to mitigate the damage being done to both generations of Australians by
obesity will be hugely important for the future of our nation."
Ms
Pilkington says turning to the workplace is a logical step when considering how
to have a positive impact on adult health.
"The
Australian government has acknowledged this with substantial investment in the
Healthy Workers Initiative - more than $21 million has been granted to South
Australia to deliver programs that will reduce the prevalence of being
overweight and obese, and the associated behaviours in the workforce.
"We
have a window of opportunity to change the health path that many boomers and Gen
Xers are currently on," Ms Pilkington says.
Ms
Pilkington's study considers various factors that influence the risk of being
overweight or obese, such as: work stress, type of occupation and generation.
"Job
strain occurs when people experience high demands and low control in their
jobs. My research has shown that females are more likely to experience this
type of work stress, and Gen X has a significantly higher risk. This is a
concern given the known association between high job strain, coronary heart
disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity and type 2 diabetes," she says.
The
next step for Ms Pilkington is to conduct a survey to examine any
health-promoting features at various workplaces, and the barriers to and
enablers of new programs aimed at improving workers' health.
She
says the kinds of intervention needed in the workplace would target the
physical work environment as well as the psycho-social environment.
Potential Intervention Programs/Workplace
Changes could include:
·
Physical
activity programs;
·
Access
to healthy, nutritious and affordable foods (changing the default choice away
from fast or junk food, which is often more easily accessible in or near the
workplace);
·
Alcohol
and tobacco policies and programs;
·
Mental
health policies and programs;
·
Flexible
working options.
"The
benefits to employers and employees of such changes include increases in
productivity, decreases in absenteeism and presenteeism (when people are at
work but are not productive), boosting staff morale, team bonding, and a
reduction in staff turnover," Ms Pilkington says.
"As
a nation, we need to be promoting programs and policies that will see sustained
cultural and behavioural change. We need to encourage improved health at a
population level and really tackle our preventable, lifestyle-driven chronic
illnesses," she says.
###
The
above is based on the November 1, 2012 news release by University of Adelaide.
Background
Baby
Boomers were born from 1946 to 1965 (inclusive). In 2012, they are aged from 47
to 66 years old. Generation X were born from 1966 to 1980 (inclusive). They are
aged 32 to 46 in 2012.
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