Overview

Excess weight, especially obesity, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, some musculoskeletal conditions and some cancers. As the level of excess weight increases, so does the risk of developing these conditions. In addition, being overweight can hamper the ability to control or manage chronic conditions.

More reports and statistics on overweight & obesity can be found under Food & nutrition and Physical activity.

Latest findings

In 2017–18, 38% of adults in the lowest socioeconomic areas were obese, compared with 24% in the highest 60% of men and 66% of women in 2017–18 had a waist circumference that indicated high risk of metabolic complications Australia data on prevention, management and treatment activities for overweight and obesity are underdeveloped Australian data on quality of life for people affected by overweight and obesity are underdeveloped One in four (25%) children and adolescents aged 2–17 were overweight or obese in 2017–18 Australian data on death and disability related to overweight and obesity are underdeveloped Australia had the 8th highest proportion of overweight or obese adults aged 15 and over among 23 2 in 3 (67%) adults were overweight or obese in 2017–18—36% were overweight but not obese and 31% were obese Australian data on the prevalence and risk factors for overweight and obesity are well developed

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Highlights

1 in 4(25%) children and adolescents aged 2–17 were overweight or obese in 2017–18
1 in 3(31%) of Australian adults were obese in 2017–18 an increase from 1 in 5 (19%) in 1995
Children and adolescentsin 2014–15 were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese at ages 10–13 and 14–17 than those of the same age 20 years earlier
8.4%of the burden of disease in Australia was attributable to overweight and obesity in 2015
2 in 3(67%) adults were overweight or obese in 2017–18
Australian dataon death and disability related to overweight and obesity are underdeveloped
22,700weight loss surgery separations were recorded in 2014–15, an increase from 9,300 in 2005–06