Children born in Queensland in the next 10 years could lose up to five years on their life expectancy. 

The new modelling suggests life expectancy for children born in the next decade could decrease between six months and 4.1 years in the general population.

It would be the first time a child’s life expectancy is shorter than their parents.

It’s based on projected modelling of obesity rates in Queensland.

Joanna Munro, Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s director of health system partnerships, says there are a lot of factors that contribute to a person becoming overweight.

“This recent research and modelling shows that Queensland children born from 2023 are at great risk of living a shorter life than their parents and this has never been before,” she told Sofie Formica.

“They could have their life expectancy reduced by up to five years due to that impact of obesity and overweight.

“Two thirds of Queensland adults and one in four children are living with overweight and obesity.”

Press PLAY below to hear what ‘significant’ change would need to be done to stem the trend