Researchers count the cost of middle-aged spread

A national study of health and ageing has found that middle-aged overweight patients are costing the Australian hospital system almost $4 billion a year.

A research team coordinated by the Sax Institute in Sydney looked at the hospital records of more than 200,000 people, aged from 45 to 79 years, as part of a health survey of older Australians. The institute is a not-for-profit organisation that coordinates research and government health policy.

The national health study began in 2006, and involved medical researchers from the University of Western Sydney, the Australian National University and the University of Sydney.