Adults
In 2007–2008, 62% of the Australian adult population were either overweight or obese. While there are more overweight males than females, the prevalence of obesity between the sexes is similar.
Trends in overweight and obesity
There are no recent trend data for BMI using measured height and weight. However, self-reported data are available for recent years. These data show that the rate of overweight and obesity among Australian adults is rising.
Risk from overweight and obesity
Risk can be determined by measuring waist circumference. Based on the 2007–08 NHS, more females are at substantially increased risk of developing chronic diseases than males.
Children
For Australian children aged 5–17 years, the proportion of overweight and obese children increases as the age group increases.
People living in regional and remote areas
There is a higher proportion of Australian adults living in outer regional and remote areas who are obese compared with major cities and inner regional areas.
Socio-economic status
The prevalence of obese adults aged 15 and above is highest in the 1st quintile, which is the most disadvantage category in the SEIFA Index of Relative Disadvantage. There is a lower prevaleance of females who are obese, across all quintiles, when compared the
Source tables
Men
BMI of males aged 15 years and above, 2007-08 (per cent)
| Age group |
Underweight |
Normal |
Overweight |
Obese |
| 15-24 |
4.2 |
58.3 |
24.8 |
12.7 |
| 25-34 |
2.2 |
35.9 |
42.5 |
19.5 |
| 35-44 |
0.8 |
28.5 |
44.2 |
26.6 |
| 45-54 |
0.4 |
22.8 |
47.0 |
29.7 |
| 55-64 |
0.1 |
25.0 |
40.0 |
34.9 |
| 65-74 |
0.4 |
20.7 |
44.9 |
34.0 |
| 75 + |
1.0 |
24.7 |
52.8 |
21.5 |
| Total |
1.4 |
32.6 |
41.0 |
25.0 |
Note: Based on measured height and weight. Excludes New South Wales and Victoria who did not participate in the 2010 Census.
Source: AIHW analysis of the 2007-08 NHS.
Women
BMI of females aged 15 years and above, 2007-08 (per cent)
| Age group |
Underweight |
Normal |
Overweight |
Obese |
| 15-24 |
7.3 |
59.3 |
21.0 |
12.4 |
| 25-34 |
3.4 |
52.2 |
26.4 |
18.0 |
| 35-44 |
1.9 |
43.0 |
32.4 |
22.7 |
| 45-54 |
1.7 |
39.6 |
32.5 |
26.3 |
| 55-64 |
1.2 |
30.9 |
34.7 |
33.2 |
| 65-74 |
1.3 |
27.4 |
42.0 |
29.4 |
| 75 + |
2.5 |
40.6 |
32.6 |
24.3 |
| Total |
2.9 |
43.5 |
30.6 |
22.9 |
Note: Based on measured height and weight. Excludes New South Wales and Victoria who did not participate in the 2010 Census.
Source: AIHW analysis of the 2007-08 NHS.
Adults
BMI of persons aged 15 years and above, 2007-08 (per cent)
| Age group |
Underweight |
Normal |
Overweight |
Obese |
| 15-24 |
5.7 |
58.8 |
22.9 |
12.6 |
| 25-34 |
2.7 |
43.7 |
34.8 |
18.8 |
| 35-44 |
1.3 |
35.8 |
38.2 |
24.6 |
| 45-54 |
1.0 |
31.1 |
39.8 |
28.0 |
| 55-64 |
0.6 |
27.9 |
37.4 |
34.1 |
| 65-74 |
0.8 |
24.1 |
43.5 |
31.6 |
| 75 + |
1.8 |
33.4 |
41.8 |
23.0 |
| Total |
2.2 |
38.0 |
35.8 |
24.0 |
Note: Based on measured height and weight. Excludes New South Wales and Victoria who did not participate in the 2010 Census.
Source: AIHW analysis of the 2007-08 NHS.
Children
Children who are overweight or obese, by age group, 2007-08 (per cent)
|
Males |
|
Females |
| 5–9 |
10–14 |
15–17 |
5–9 |
10–14 |
15–17 |
| Overweight |
14.5 |
17.8 |
16.2 |
|
14.6 |
19.7 |
22.0 |
| Obese |
6.4 |
8.6 |
15.1 |
|
7.0 |
3.3 |
7.4 |
| Total |
20.9 |
26.4 |
31.3 |
|
21.6 |
23.0 |
29.4 |
Note: Based on measured height and weight.
Source: AIHW analysis of the 2007-08 NHS.
By region
Adults aged 15 years and over who are obese, by region and age group, 2007-08 (per cent)
| Sex |
Age group |
Major cities |
Inner regional |
Outer regional / Remote |
| Males |
15-24 |
7.3 |
15.1 |
11.4 |
| 25-34 |
14.0 |
15.7 |
18.5 |
| 35-44 |
16.7 |
22.4 |
26.8 |
| 45-54 |
19.2 |
21.7 |
31.7 |
| 55-64 |
25.1 |
24.6 |
31.5 |
| 65-74 |
22.9 |
27.4 |
28.4 |
| 75+ |
13.0 |
12.2 |
35.7 |
| Total |
16.5 |
19.9 |
24.9 |
| Females |
15-24 |
7.3 |
11.4 |
15.6 |
| 25-34 |
10.3 |
18.1 |
18.0 |
| 35-44 |
15.9 |
21.7 |
25.7 |
| 45-54 |
19.3 |
20.9 |
16.4 |
| 55-64 |
15.8 |
18.5 |
23.5 |
| 65-74 |
22.5 |
27.1 |
18.8 |
| 75+ |
15.6 |
18.4 |
13.7 |
| Total |
14.6 |
18.8 |
19.4 |
| Persons |
15-24 |
7.3 |
13.2 |
13.4 |
| 25-34 |
12.1 |
16.8 |
18.2 |
| 35-44 |
15.4 |
21.3 |
23.3 |
| 45-54 |
18.6 |
18.5 |
26.4 |
| 55-64 |
23.0 |
26.3 |
29.7 |
| 65-74 |
21.5 |
25.4 |
23.7 |
| 75 + |
14.5 |
15.8 |
25.1 |
| Total |
15.5 |
19.3 |
22.3 |
Note: Based on measured height and weight.
Source: AIHW analysis of the 2007-08 NHS.
By socio-economic status
Adults aged 15 years and over who are obese, by region and age group, 2007-08 (per cent)
| Sex |
Age group |
1st quintile |
2nd quintile |
3rd quintile |
4th quintile |
5th quintile |
| Males |
15-24 |
17.2 |
9.3 |
6.2 |
7.1 |
7.1 |
| 25-34 |
21.7 |
16.7 |
14.1 |
8.4 |
13.7 |
| 35-44 |
23.6 |
18.1 |
18.7 |
15.9 |
19.0 |
| 45-54 |
26.8 |
20.2 |
17.5 |
29.3 |
15.4 |
| 55-64 |
36.8 |
27.2 |
25.0 |
17.6 |
24.6 |
| 65-74 |
27.3 |
28.8 |
24.6 |
25.5 |
18.3 |
| 75 + |
14.6 |
19.5 |
23.0 |
11.7 |
7.0 |
| Total |
24.4 |
19.2 |
17.3 |
16.1 |
15.2 |
| Females |
15-24 |
18.9 |
8.4 |
11.2 |
5.4 |
2.7 |
| 25-34 |
14.4 |
19.6 |
11.0 |
10.8 |
7.3 |
| 35-44 |
24.8 |
24.2 |
11.3 |
11.8 |
10.7 |
| 45-54 |
22.6 |
17.1 |
18.0 |
18.4 |
13.6 |
| 55-64 |
25.2 |
26.7 |
28.1 |
21.1 |
16.0 |
| 65-74 |
27.3 |
16.2 |
18.3 |
22.9 |
20.1 |
| 75 + |
12.2 |
18.5 |
22.2 |
19.2 |
10.6 |
| Total |
21.2 |
18.8 |
16.1 |
14.5 |
10.7 |
| Persons |
15-24 |
18.1 |
8.8 |
8.8 |
6.3 |
4.8 |
| 25-34 |
18.0 |
18.1 |
12.5 |
9.6 |
10.5 |
| 35-44 |
24.2 |
21.2 |
15.1 |
13.8 |
14.7 |
| 45-54 |
24.6 |
18.5 |
17.7 |
23.6 |
14.6 |
| 55-64 |
30.7 |
26.9 |
26.5 |
19.3 |
20.3 |
| 65-74 |
27.3 |
22.6 |
21.2 |
24.2 |
19.1 |
| 75 + |
13.1 |
18.9 |
22.5 |
15.6 |
9.0 |
| Total |
22.7 |
18.9 |
16.7 |
15.3 |
13.0 |
Notes:
1. Based on measured height and weight.
2. 1st quintile: most disadvantaged. 5th quintile: least disadvantaged.
3. Results are age-standardised to the 2007-08 survey population.
4. Based on measured height and weight.
Source: AIHW analysis of the 2007-08 NHS.