Background: Overweight and obesity impose a significant health burden in Australia, predominantly the middle-aged and older adults. Studies of the association between obesity and chronic diseases are primarily based on cross-sectional data, which is insufficient to deduce a temporal relationship. Using nationally representative panel data, this study aims to investigate whether obesity is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, asthma, arthritis, and depression in Australian middle-aged and older adults. Methods: Longitudinal data comprising three waves (waves 9, 13 and 17) of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey were used in this study. This study fitted longitudinal random-effect logistic regression models to estimate the between-person differences in the association between obesity and chronic diseases. Results: The findings indicated that obesity was associated with a higher prevalence of chronic diseases among Australian middle-aged and older adults. Obese adults (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥ 30) were at 12.76, 2.05, 1.97, 2.25, and 1.96, times of higher risks of having type 2 diabetes (OR: 12.76, CI 95%: 8.88–18.36), heart disease (OR: 2.05, CI 95%: 1.54–2.74), asthma (OR: 1.97, CI 95%: 1.49–2.62), arthritis (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.90–2.68) and depression (OR: 1.96, CI 95%: 1.56–2.48), respectively, compared with healthy weight counterparts. However, the study did not find any evidence of a statistically significant association between obesity and cancer. Besides, gender stratified regression results showed that obesity is associated with a higher likelihood of asthma (OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.84–3.80) among female adults, but not in the case of male adults. Conclusion: Excessive weight is strongly associated with a higher incidence of chronic disease in Australian middle-aged and older adults. This finding has clear public health implications. Health promotion programs and strategies would be helpful to meet the challenge of excessive weight gain and thus contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases.

This study delves into the complex interplay between gross domestic product (GDP) and key macroeconomic indicators in the contexts of Turkey and Bangladesh. By examining panel data spanning from 1981 to 2020 sourced from the World Bank, we investigate the causal relationships between GDP growth and various factors including population growth, inflation, literacy rate, natural resource utilization, investment, and foreign direct investment (FDI). Our research aims to address critical questions regarding the economic trajectories of these two emerging economies. Specifically, we seek to understand how different macroeconomic variables influence GDP growth in Bangladesh and Turkey, while also exploring the unique socio-economic landscapes of these nations. Methodologically, we employ the Dumitrescu–Hurlin panel causality test to analyze the causal relationships between GDP growth and the aforementioned macroeconomic indicators. Our findings reveal direct, statistically significant associations between GDP growth and these variables, with population growth emerging as a particularly influential factor. The implications of our study extend beyond empirical observations, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to foster sustainable economic development in both Bangladesh and Turkey. By identifying the key drivers of GDP growth and their impact on economic performance, our research contributes to the existing body of literature on economic development in emerging economies. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the intricate dynamics of GDP growth in Turkey and Bangladesh, highlighting the importance of understanding and leveraging macroeconomic indicators to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth in these nations.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is rising dramatically worldwide, including in Australia. Therefore, the necessity of identifying the risk factors of overweight and obesity is pivotal. The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of neighbourhood socio-economic circumstances and place of residence on obesity amongst Australian adults. This study has used nationally representative panel data on 183,183 person-year observations from 26,032 unique Australian adults from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA). Random-effects logistic regression technique was employed to examine the relationships. The prevalence of overweight and obesity has been found at approximately 34% and 24%, respectively. The most striking result to emerge from the analyses is that adults living in the most socio-economic disadvantaged area were 2.04 times (AOR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.57–2.65) and adults from regional cities of Australia were 1.71 times (AOR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.34–2.19) more prone to be obese compared to their healthy counterparts. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is very high among Australian adults, especially those living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and the regional cities. Unhealthy levels of BMI have costly impacts on the individual, the economy, and the health care system. Therefore, this study emphasises effective weight control strategies that can potentially tackle the obesity epidemic in Australia.