Obesity, diet and exercise in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
Key Evidence
76.8% of Indigenous adults are overweight or obese, compared to 66.3% non-Indigenous (age-standardised)
49.1% of Indigenous women are obese, compared to 29.2% non-Indigenous (age-standardised)
42.4% of total daily energy intake for Indigenous 19 to 30-year-olds is from discretionary foods
8.7% of Indigenous women aged 18-24 in non-remote areas are meeting physical activity guidelines
In 2018–19, more than three-quarters (76.8%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years and over were either overweight (29.6%) or obese (47.2%), when standardised for age to reflect differences in the age structure of the population.1
Overweight and obesity by gender
In 2018-19, a similar proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and non-Indigenous women were overweight, but a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women were obese. When compared to non-Indigenous men, fewer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men were overweight but more were obese.1
Diet
Few Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults met dietary recommendations for intake of fruit and vegetables in 2018-19 and most younger adults consumed sugar-sweetened beverages at least weekly. Figures from 2011-13 show that a high percentage of daily energy intake was from discretionary food.
Fruit and vegetable consumption by serve and age group
In 2018-19, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults’ usual daily consumption of fruit and vegetables varied by age group.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020). 4715.0 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Australia, 2018–19. Canberra, Australia. Table 16.3
National Health and Medical Research Council's 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend a minimum number of serves of fruit and vegetables each day, depending on a person's age and sex, to ensure good nutrition and health.
Serves | 18–24 years | 25–34 years | 35–44 years | 45–54 years | 55+ years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fruit | |||||
Less than 1 serve | 30.7 | 28.2 | 34.1 | 35.0 | 28.9 |
1 serve | 27.7 | 34.7 | 30.8 | 32.3 | 26.2 |
2 serves | 23.1 | 24.1 | 23.7 | 21.0 | 25.4 |
3 serves | 12.9 | 8.9 | 8.7 | 6.5 | 11.4 |
4 serves | 2.0 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 5.0 |
5+ serves | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
Vegetables | |||||
Less than 1 serve | 20.6 | 14.8 | 13.7 | 13.7 | 14.2 |
1 serve | 31.5 | 28.1 | 28.0 | 32.6 | 26.8 |
2 serves | 24.6 | 26.8 | 26.6 | 23.7 | 23.3 |
3 serves | 12.1 | 15.6 | 16.8 | 18.2 | 18.8 |
4 serves | 7.2 | 9.0 | 9.4 | 5.9 | 9.0 |
5+ serves | 4.8 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 7.3 |
Adequate daily fruit and vegetable consumption by age group
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020). 4715.0 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Australia, 2018–19. Canberra, Australia. Table 16.3
National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend a minimum number of serves of fruit and vegetables each day, depending on a person's age and sex, to ensure good nutrition and health.
Consumption | 18–24 years | 25–34 years | 35–44 years | 45–54 years | 55+years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adequate daily fruit consumption | 41.6 | 37.0 | 35.0 | 32.5 | 44.5 |
Adequate daily vegetable consumption | 2.5 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.3 |
Adequate daily fruit and daily vegetable consumption | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.7 |
Inadequate daily fruit and vegetable consumption | 98.2 | 98.5 | 97.4 | 97.1 | 96.0 |
Discretionary food made a greater contribution to the total energy intake of Indigenous adults, compared to non-Indigenous adults in 2011-13. Discretionary foods are high in energy but low in nutrients and are not needed to meet nutrient requirements.
Intake of added sugars was higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults than non-Indigenous Australians in 2011-13.2 Added sugars are those added to foods by manufacturers or consumers, excluding those naturally present in honey, syrups and fruit juices.
Physical activity
Few Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults living in non-remote areas were sufficiently active for health in 2018-19. In remote areas, one in five adults (20.9%) did not participate in any physical activity on the day prior to interview in 2012-13.
Physical activity in non-remote areas
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020). 4715.0 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Australia, 2018–19. Canberra, Australia. Table 21.3
For 18 to 64-year-olds, sufficient physical activity is defined as 150 minutes from five or more sessions per week using walking for fitness/transport, moderate and/or vigorous physical activity, with strength or toning activities on at least two days.
Activity | 18–24 years | 25–34 years | 35–44 years | 45–54 years | 55+ years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Men | |||||
Met guidelines | 15.4 | 15.5 | 10.5 | 11.4 | 13.3 |
Did not meet guidelines | 85.7 | 84.9 | 89.2 | 90.6 | 86.7 |
Women | |||||
Met guidelines | 8.7 | 10.3 | 8.1 | 12.0 | 9.9 |
Did not meet guidelines | 89.9 | 89.7 | 92.5 | 86.8 | 90.8 |
Physical activity in remote areas
Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4727.0.55.004 - Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Physical Activity, 2012-13. 2014.
In remote areas, one in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults (20.9%) did not participate in any physical activity on the day prior to interview in 2012-13, one in five (20.2%) did less than 30 minutes of physical activity and 55.1% did more than 30 minutes of physical activity.