A new study in Melbourne said the average waistline in Australia has grown to more than 5 centimetres since 2000. The 12-year study by Melbourne researchers also revealed that the inactive lifestyles and spiraling rates of obesity were lowering the life expectancy of Australians.

Adults in Australia with ages 25 to 34 year olds have increased their waistlines up to 6.6 cm. They are also 6.7 cm kilogrammes heavier today compared to 12 years ago. Due to the alarming results, Melbourne researchers warned the people that Australia could become "a nation of couch potatoes" with average sitting times of to 10 hours a day.

The AusDiab study, led by Professor Jonathan Shaw, about the health of 11,000 Australians also showed figures that about 269 adults develop diabetes, a complication of obesity, every day. Professor Shaw said the government must do something radical to make it illegal for employees to sit on their chairs for more than 2 hours straight.

The study also suggested that younger adults were piling on the pounds as the country's average waistline expands to 5.3 cm. Mr. Shaw warned not to ignore the results of the study. Young adults should take note of the results and change their eating habits. They should not wait until they are in their 50s to act when it is too late.

Mr. Shaw said a person can keep gaining weight until he or she reaches 50 years old. This age is often the time when people will stop doing the things they used to do when they were younger.

In 2000, 22.3 per cent of Australians were obese. In 2012, the figure grew to 27.3 per cent. The AusDiab study also said obese Australians were likely to suffer diabetes five times more making them more at risk when they age.

Australians who are 60 years old, obese and suffered from diabetes were also two times more likely to suffer diabetes. Obese Australians were five times more likely to die, based on the study. Those struggling with obesity were twice more likely to experience depression.

In the first 12-year research about obesity, participants in the study wore devices fitted to their legs. Researchers monitored the participants for about a week to record how much time they spent doing nothing. The results shocked Associate Professor David Dunstan, who was also the co-author of the study.

Mr. Shaw recommended making healthy food cheaper for Australians. The government can look into subsidising fresh and healthy food or explore the idea of taxing junk food.

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