A new study has found a link between the implementation of high-speed internet services and an increase in obesity rates.
A obesity continues to be a major concern around the world. The increase in this condition is largely due to factors related to lifestyle, health and changing environmental conditions, namely poor diet and sedentary behavior.
Recently, a new study by researchers from Monash University, the University of Melbourne and RMIT University found a link between the rise in obesity in Australia and the rollout of high-speed internet services across the country.
“Access to high-speed internet decreases the likelihood of individuals achieving minimum physical activity recommendation proposed by the World Health Organization”, said Klaus Ackermann, quoted by . “This means that people become more inactive and with a more sedentary behavior.”
The team reached this conclusion after analyzing 14 waves of longitudinal data from Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) and a dataset on the implementation and adoption of the National Broadband Network (NBN) in postcodes across the country.
Since 2012, the NBN infrastructure project has been gradually upgrading existing analogue telephone internet systems, delivering significant improvements in internet speed.
In the study, a 1% increase in the NBN adoption rate was associated with an increase in the prevalence of obesity, more specifically an overall increase in the body mass index (BMI) of 1.57 kg/m2 and a 6.6% increase in prevalence.
According to the team, access to faster internet services has contributed to the increase in the number of Australians with obesity due to its effect on physical activity and eating habits.
Scientists hope that their findings, published in a Economics & Human Biologyraise awareness about this association and possible policies to promote physical activity.
