While health loss by most major causes will fall in Australia, that caused by type 2 diabetes will more than double by 2023, according to research by The University of Queensland’s School of Population Health.
Health loss was described as the “disability adjusted life year” (DALY), where one DALY equals one lost year of healthy life.
The study found that 75 percent of health loss in Australia is caused by cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological and sense disorders, chronic respiratory disease and injuries.
While many of these factors are predicted to decrease by 2023, the researchers found that mental disorders, neurological and sense disorders, muscoskelatal disorders and, in particular, type 2 diabetes would rise.
The rise in type 2 diabetes is predicted largely based on expected increases in body mass. The researchers believe campaigns to encourage Australians to maintain a healthy body weight could help reduce the rising diabetes rates.