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| | Obesity in Australia is currently at an "epidemic"<ref name="epidemic">Siobhain Ryan & Natasha Bita (9 January 2009). "[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/childhood-obesity-epidemic-a-myth/story-e6frg6n6-1111118515918 Childhood obesity epidemic a myth, says research]". The Australian. Retrieved 5 July 2009.</ref> level with "increasing frequency."<ref name="epidemic"/><ref>Mandy Biggs (5 October 2006). "[http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/SP/obesity.htm Overweight and obesity in Australia]". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2009.</ref> The ''Medical Journal of Australia'' reports that obesity in Australia has more than doubled in the two decades preceding 2003.<ref>Amanda Dunn (5 May 2003). "[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/04/1051987606983.html Australia, US the most overweight]". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 5 July 2009.</ref> In 2007, the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) indictated that 67.4% of Australian adults are overweight.<ref>Lauren Streib (8 February 2007). "[http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/worlds-fattest-countries-forbeslife-cx_ls_0208worldfat_2.html World's Fattest Countries]". Forbes. Retrieved 12 February 2009.</ref> | | Obesity in Australia is currently at an "epidemic"<ref name="epidemic">Siobhain Ryan & Natasha Bita (9 January 2009). "[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/childhood-obesity-epidemic-a-myth/story-e6frg6n6-1111118515918 Childhood obesity epidemic a myth, says research]". The Australian. Retrieved 5 July 2009.</ref> level with "increasing frequency."<ref name="epidemic"/><ref>Mandy Biggs (5 October 2006). "[http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/SP/obesity.htm Overweight and obesity in Australia]". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2009.</ref> The ''Medical Journal of Australia'' reports that obesity in Australia has more than doubled in the two decades preceding 2003.<ref>Amanda Dunn (5 May 2003). "[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/04/1051987606983.html Australia, US the most overweight]". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 5 July 2009.</ref> In 2007, the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) indictated that 67.4% of Australian adults are overweight.<ref>Lauren Streib (8 February 2007). "[http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/worlds-fattest-countries-forbeslife-cx_ls_0208worldfat_2.html World's Fattest Countries]". Forbes. Retrieved 12 February 2009.</ref> |
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| | + | [[Medical science]] studies indicate that excess weight impairs brain function (see also: [[Physical and mental health related problems associated with obesity|Health effects of obesity]] and [[Obesity and its negative impact on intelligence]])<ref> |
| | + | *[http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=110328 Obesity Linked to Changes In Cognitive Patterns, Psychiatric News, Joan Arehart-Treichel, Clinical and Research News, September 15, 2006] |
| | + | *[http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2009/08/25/as-waistlines-widen-brains-shrink.html As Waistlines Widen, Brains Shrink: The obese and overweight have less neurological tissue, study finds, U.S News & World Report August 25, 2009] |
| | + | *[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21167850 Western diet consumption and cognitive impairment: links to hippocampal dysfunction and obesity, Physiol Behav. 2011 Apr 18;103(1):59-68. Epub 2010 Dec 16.] |
| | + | *[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100714112832.htm Obesity Harms Women's Memory and Brain Function, Study Finds, Science Daily, July 15, 2010] |
| | + | *[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/2568718/ Mental health, family function and obesity in African-American women, J Natl Med Assoc. 2005 April; 97(4): 478–482.] |
| | + | *[http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/20061101/obesity-alzheimers-risk Obesity and Alzheimer's: High Insulin Levels Linked to Alzheimer's] |
| | + | *[http://thehealthage.blogspot.com/2009/08/obese-people-are-more-at-risk-to.html Obese people are more at risk of Alzheimer’s] |
| | + | *[http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2011/05/obesity-in-middle-age-may-increase-risk.html Obesity in Middle Age May Increase Risk of Dementia]</ref> |
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| | == Australia, societal decline and intelligence == | | == Australia, societal decline and intelligence == |