Body Mass Index (BMI) (PI12)

This indicator is the proportion of First Nations regular clients aged 18 and over who had their body mass index (BMI) classified within specified categories or not calculated within the previous 24 months.

It is reported here in 2 parts as the proportion of First Nations regular clients aged 18 and over who, within the previous 24 months, had:

  • their BMI calculated
  • their BMI calculated with a result of either:
    • underweight
    • normal
    • overweight
    • obese.

It is collected for males and females in age groups:

  • 18–24
  • 25–34
  • 35–44
  • 45–54
  • 55–64
  • 65 and over.

There have been changes to the specification of this indicator over time. For more information see Interpreting nKPI data.

Why weight is important

Being either underweight (for example, because of under-nutrition) or overweight or obese (where an abnormal or excessive amount of fat accumulates in the body) increases a person’s risk of poor physical health. Both are risk factors for future illness.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2018–19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey show that First Nations people aged 15 and over are less likely to be of normal weight than non-Indigenous Australians (AIHW 2023). The proportion of First Nations people who are of normal weight has decreased over time.

At June 2023, 61% (or around 152,000) of First Nations regular clients aged 18 and over had their BMI calculated, 39% (97,300) had not (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Whether Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated by reporting period

Whether Body Mass Index (MBI) was calculated by reporting period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of First Nations regular clients aged 18 and over who had their BMI calculated from December 2021 to June 2023 for either:

  • type of organisation (ACCHO, non-ACCHO)
  • remoteness area (Major cities, Inner regional, Outer regional, Remote, Very remote)
  • state/territory (NSW/ACT, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, NT)
  • age/sex (male, female with age group 18–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65+).

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Notes

  1. In December 2021, specifications changed for this indicator and data from that point on cannot be compared with previous periods for all categories, age groups or the total. For more information see Interpreting nKPI data.
  2.  For more information, including on interpreting changes over time, see Technical notes.

Of those with their BMI recorded:

  • 25% (or around 37,300) were of normal weight
  • 26% (or around 39,200) were overweight
  • 45% (or around 67,800) were obese
  • 5% (or around 7,600) were underweight (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Body Mass Index (BMI) result by reporting period

Body Mass Index (BMI) result by reporting period

This Tableau visualisations shows the percentage of First Nations regular clients aged 18 and over who had their BMI calculated and their BMI calculated with a result of either (normal, overweight, obese, underweight) from December 2021 to June 2023 for either:

  • type of organisation (ACCHO, non-ACCHO)
  • remoteness area (Major cities, Inner regional, Outer regional, Remote, Very remote)
  • state/territory (NSW/ACT, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, NT)
  • age/sex (male, female with age group 18–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65+).

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Notes

  1. In December 2021, specifications changed for this indicator and data from that point on cannot be compared with previous periods for all categories, age groups or the total. For more information see Interpreting nKPI data.
  2. Proportions are calculated using the denominator of First Nations regular clients with BMI recorded.
  3. For more information, including on interpreting changes over time, see Technical notes.

For more information on BMI see Data.

Reference

AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2023) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework: overweight and obesity, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 11 December 2023.