Study finds High-Speed Internet Linked to Rising Obesity Rates in Australia
New Delhi: A recent study has drawn a connection between high-speed internet access and rising obesity rates in Australia.
These findings published in Economics & Human Biology underscore the urgent need for public health initiatives that encourage balanced screen time and promote physical activity.
Without restricting internet access, strategies such as awareness campaigns, workplace activity programs, and educational efforts in schools could help offset the negative health effects of prolonged screen use and foster healthier habits.
Conducted in collaboration with The University of Melbourne, Monash University, and RMIT University, the research analysed data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, covering 2006 to 2019. The findings shed light on how digital connectivity may be affecting Australians’ physical health through reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behaviour.
Obesity poses significant health risks, including a higher likelihood of developing conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022), nearly two-thirds (65.8%) of Australian adults were classified as overweight or obese.
The financial implications are equally alarming—in 2018, obesity cost Australians $11.8 billion and is projected to escalate to $87.7 billion by 2032, as outlined by the National Obesity Strategy (2022).
Dr Klaus Ackermann, senior author and a researcher in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics at Monash Business School, explained the mechanisms through which high-speed internet is linked to obesity.
“Access to high-speed internet connection decreases the likelihood of individuals meeting the minimum physical activity recommendation proposed by the WHO. That is, individuals become more inactive and exhibit more sedentary behaviour,” Dr Ackermann said.
The research team identified that the need to stay connected online for extended periods leads to lower metabolic rates and contributes to weight gain.
“Sedentary behaviour is induced by the need to stay connected online for longer hours, which leads to lower metabolic rate and contributes to obesity. This problem is elevated by the need to frequently consume snacks during computer usage, which increases the daily intake of calories that contribute to obesity,” Dr Ackermann added.
The study found that a one per cent increase in the adoption rate of the National Broadband Network (NBN) is associated with an overall increase of 1.57 kg/m² in BMI and a 6.6% increase in obesity prevalence. This trend highlights a decline in MET (Metabolic Equivalent Task) minutes, which indicates a reduction in time spent on activities that boost metabolism.
Dr Ackermann pointed out that internet access also makes it easier to access various goods and services, minimizing the need to run physical errands. “Internet usage enables ease of access to various goods and services, and therefore reduces the need to perform errands physically. The convenience of electronic communications further reduces the need to meet up with family and friends in person, which further reduces potential opportunities to engage in physical activities,” he noted.
Researchers found that as more households adopted high-speed internet, both BMI and obesity rates climbed, driven by a decrease in physical activity and an increase in sedentary behaviour.
The study concludes that while high-speed internet is essential in today’s world, there is a need for public health measures that promote awareness of the risks associated with sedentary behaviour.
“Given that access to high-speed internet increases the prevalence of obesity through sedentary behaviour, our findings suggest that policies to promote awareness of the negative implications of sedentary behaviour are important,” Dr Ackermann said.
He further emphasized, “One avenue of suggestion could be creating awareness on the potential increase of sedentary behaviour with internet access; this could motivate people to take breaks between screen time to reduce sedentary behaviour and engage in physical activity to promote a healthier lifestyle.”
Public health campaigns could also encourage people to run errands physically when possible and incorporate short, vigorous exercises to meet daily activity recommendations, even for those with busy lifestyles.
“Such public health campaigns could encourage the need to physically engage in errands, if possible, as opposed to strictly accessing goods and services online. Further, public health campaigns that encourage short but vigorous physical activity that meets daily healthy living physical activity requirements could be useful for individuals with busy lifestyles who may only have limited time,” Dr Ackermann concluded.
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.