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Health

We Asked Some Locals How They Feel About Australia’s Fattest Region

The National Heart Foundation has nominated the Darling Downs-Maranoa region of Queensland as the fattest part of Australia. We called some locals to see if they disagreed.

Stanthorpe township. Image via Wiki Commons

On Sunday the National Heart Foundation launched Heart Week with a round of obesity statistics. Not much of it was good news, especially if you live in the Darling Downs-Maranoa region of Queensland, five-hours west of Brisbane. This area had the worst results in the country, with 44 percent of the residents officially obese and 75 percent simply not getting enough exercise to be healthy.

There is however, a strong argument that this report is more provocative than useful. After all, it's unlikely that ranking towns will inspire the stragglers to get in shape. So instead of just reiterating the findings we thought we'd give the residents of Darling Downs-Maranoa a chance to respond. Here's what they said.

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Federal Hotel, Wallumbilla. Image via Flickr user Matt

Sandra, employee at Wallumbilla Post Office. Population: 285

I don't know if those statistics are true. I would think maybe 70 percent of our local kids play netball and football. As for my generation, maybe we're having kids and don't have much time for exercise. There's not enough time in our day to incorporate it. By the time you hit 50 or 60, knees hurt, shoulders hurt, it becomes a question of are you physically able?

Janine, General Store Owner, Wallumbilla

I would agree with the survey, especially when you head up to Roma. There's a lot of obesity there. Actually, there's lot around here too and especially for the young mums and kids. Nobody walks anywhere. To go shopping in Roma you need to drive 40 kilometres and I think it's this lack of exercise and, in part, a little bit of laziness. I have noticed that Queensland is very obese.

Jodie, manager of Snap Fitness, Roma. Population: 7,000

Yes, I heard about this report this morning. I'm pissed off because I just don't know how they can stamp us with this label. Did they come here and drive around looking for big people? I'd like to know more about their process.

I know that we do have a high rate of—I wouldn't call it unemployment—but pretty much every available job is filled. And those people who don't work tend to be a bit heavier. Also a lot of people here drive everywhere. They'll hop in their car to travel two blocks, that sort of thing. But I also think that the majority here really care about their health.

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_We've been open about two years and we've seen so many people lose weight in that time. We have fun runs and a had a healthy lifestyle expo for women last year. The council really supports us too. They've put signs on the footpaths that say _Be Healthy Maranoa.

Maranoa Regional Council. Emailed statement by Mayor Robert Loughnan

As a clarification, [the report] relates broadly to the "Darling Downs –Maranoa" area, not the Maranoa Regional Council area specifically.

Some of the statistics used appear to be superseded by more recent survey. A more recent survey conducted in 2011/12 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that the prevalence of overweight and obesity has decreased by 1.6%.

In recent years, Council has implemented "Be Healthy Maranoa – an initiative by Maranoa Regional Council in partnership with the community. In addition to this, the Maranoa Regional Council area has sporting activities for all ages available on a regular basis—including, but not limited to—multiple gym access.

Into the future, Council will continue to work with our community to encourage our residents of all ages to live a healthy and active lifestyle.

The consensus seemed to be that yes, there are some tubby people about but no one thought it was a crisis. As the National Heart Foundation CEO, Mary Barry said "Far from being the fit and active, outdoors type often portrayed, this data shows us that nearly one third of Australians are obese and more than half are living sedentary lifestyles with little or no physical activity in their day." Yes, this is small-town version of a national problem.

Follow Charlotte on Twitter: @charsyates