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

High use of leisure screen-based activities is associated with increased overweight and obesity in children Education, employment and income all play a part in people’s health behaviours in the home environment Australia had the 6th highest proportion of overweight or obese people aged 15+ among 22 OECD member countries in 2019 60% of men and 66% of women in 2017–18 had a waist circumference that indicated a high risk of metabolic complications One in four (25%) children and adolescents aged 2–17 were overweight or obese in 2017–18 2 in 3 (67%) adults were overweight or obese in 2017–18—36% were overweight but not obese and 31% were obese In 2011–12, discretionary food contributed towards 39% of daily energy intake in those aged 2–18 In 2017–18, 1 in 4 (25%) children and adolescents aged 2–17 were overweight or obese Spending on meals out of home and fast food has risen over time Children who have an active parent are more likely to be active than those with an inactive parent In 2017–18, 38% of adults in the lowest socioeconomic areas were obese, compared with 24% in the highest

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Highlights

1 in 4(25%) children and adolescents aged 2–17 and 2 in 3 (67%) adults were overweight or obese in 2017–18
38%of Indigenous children and adolescents were overweight or obese in 2018–19, increasing from 31% in 2012–13
Young people aged 15–24 in 2017–18 were more likely to be overweight or obese than those in 1995 and 2007–08
Australian dataon death and disability related to overweight and obesity are underdeveloped
8.4%of the burden of disease in Australia was attributable to overweight and obesity in 2015
1 in 3(31%) Australian adults were obese in 2017–18, an increase from 1 in 5 (19%) in 1995
The prevalenceof obesity among people born in 1973–1982 increased from 7% at age 13–22 to 31% at age 35–44