Addiction: The Biggest Killer
Question: What is the biggest killer of Australians today? If you are somewhat clued up about health matters, you may very well say, “Oh, definitely heart disease.” Or you may argue that that unenviable honour goes to cancer. Indeed, here are some statistics which would seem to validate your claim. But wait just a minute. Situations, especially in the field of health, are not always as simple and straightforward as they seem. According to the Burden of Disease and Injury in Australia, the most recent estimates are that over one-fifth of cardiovascular disease (21.3 per cent) and colorectal, breast, uterine and kidney cancer (20.5 per cent) are caused by obesity, which also causes nearly one-fourth of type 2 diabetes (at 23.8 per cent) and osteoarthritis (24.5 per cent). These figures do... »
