Overweight and obesity

Children and adolescents

In 2022–23, based on measured data from the 2022–23 ABS National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) (ABS 2024b), of First Nations children and adolescents aged 2–17, an estimated (Figure 14):

• 30% were living with overweight or obesity – approximately 102,000 children. This is a decrease from the 38% estimated from the previous NATSIHS in 2018–19 (ABS 2019a)
• 20% were living with overweight but not obesity
• 10% were living with obesity.

In 2022–23, the proportion of First Nations children living with overweight or obesity increased from 25% of those aged 2–4 to 31% of those aged 5–11. It remained similar in those aged 12–17 (30%) (Figure 14).

For obesity alone, the proportion was 6.3% in children aged 2–4, and 11% of those aged 5–11 and 12–17 (Figure 14).

For more information, see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework.

Adults

In 2022–23, based on measured data from the 2022–23 ABS NATSIHS, of First Nations people aged 18 and over (Figure 15):

• 72% were living with overweight or obesity – approximately 430,000 adults
• 27% were living with overweight but not obesity
• 44% were living with obesity
• 74% (approximately 443,500) were living with abdominal overweight or obesity – including 58% living with abdominal obesity alone, indicating a substantially increased risk of developing metabolic complications.

When comparing First Nations males and females aged 18 and over, more females (48%) than males (41%) were living with obesity (Figure 15). The difference in the proportion living with overweight or obesity was not statistically significant.

Overweight and obesity generally became more common with age (Figure 15):

• The proportion living with overweight or obesity increased from 48% of those aged 18–24 to 69% of those aged 25–34 and 79% of those aged 35–44. For those aged 45 and over, this proportion was around 82%.
• The proportion living with obesity also increased with age from 31% of those aged 18–24 to 45% of those aged 25–34, peaking at 50% of those aged 35–44. For those aged 45 and over, this proportion was around 49%.
• The proportion living with abdominal obesity increased from 34% of those aged 18–24 to 54% of those aged 25–34 and 63% of those aged 35–44. This then increased to 70% of those aged 45 and over.

After adjusting for differences in the age structure of First Nations and non-Indigenous populations, in 2022–23, First Nations adults aged 18 and over were (ABS 2024c):

• 1.1 times more likely to be living with overweight or obesity, and 1.2 times as likely to be living with abdominal overweight or obesity as non-Indigenous adults.
• 1.4 times as likely to be living with obesity and 1.3 times as likely to be living with abdominal obesity as non-Indigenous adults.

Remoteness areas

The proportion of First Nations Australians aged 18 and over living with overweight or obesity varied by remoteness area. Based on measured data from the ABS 2022–23 NATSIHS (ABS 2024a), the proportion living with overweight or obesity was:

• 73% in Major cities
• 72% in Inner regional areas
• 74% in Outer regional areas
• 68% in Remote areas
• 60% in Very remote areas.

After removing the effects of age, the proportion of First Nations adults living with overweight or obesity was the lowest in Very remote areas and the highest in Major cities and Outer regional areas. Overall, more First Nations adults in non-remote areas were living with overweight or obesity (73%), compared with remote areas (63%). This was driven by the larger proportion of First Nations adults living with obesity in non-remote areas (46%) compared with remote areas (36%) (Figure 16).

For abdominal overweight or obesity, age adjusted proportions showed no significant differences across remoteness areas. 

Trends

In 2012–13, the proportion of First Nations adults aged 18 and over living with overweight or obesity was 69% compared with 72% in 2022–23. After adjusting for the effects of age, this proportion increased over the decade (ABS 2014b, 2024a).

The proportion of First Nations adults living with obesity was 40% in 2012–13, compared with 44% in 2022–23. After adjusting for the effects of age, the proportion living with obesity increased over the decade (ABS 2014b, 2024a).

For abdominal overweight or obesity, there were no significant changes over the decade.  

For more information, see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework.