Table 2.

 Perceptions of individual and community causes of obesity

Individual reasons for obesity	Reasons why Australia is becoming larger
Emotional and mental health issues: ‘Eating for comfort’ and ‘stress’	Convenient lifestyles
Overeating	Sedentary lifestyles: impact of technology – internet and television – on communities
Genetic factors	Urban planning: Lack of places for people to play
Hormonal problems	Advertising industry: targeting of unhealthy food to children
Poor dietary habits	Availability and affordability of fast food
Price of healthy food	Financial stress on modern families: Both parents working
Cost of weight loss remedies
Lack of support and accessible, affordable interventions