Obesity trends in Australian adults
Two-thirds of Australian adults are now overweight (35.6%) or obese (31.3%). Higher rates of men are overweight compared to women, while similar proportions of men and women are obese. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is rising in Australian adults, driven mainly by increased rates of obesity.
Key Evidence
67.0% of Australian adults are overweight or obese
42.2% of Australian men aged 65 to 74 years are obese
72.2% of adults in outer regional and remote Australia are overweight or obese
Severe obesity has risen from 4.9% to 9.4% among Australian adults over the past 20 years
Australian adults by weight status
In 2017-18, 67.0% of Australians aged 18 years and over were overweight or obese, comprised of 35.6% overweight and 31.3% obese. A further 31.7% were of normal weight and 1.3% were underweight.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4364.0.55.001 - National Health Survey: First Results, 2017-18. 2018.
Overweight and obesity by gender
About three quarters (74.5%) of Australian men were overweight or obese in 2017-18, compared with 59.7% of women. More men (42.0%) than women (29.6%) were overweight but not obese. Similar proportions of men (32.5%) and women (30.2%) were obese.1
Weight status: men
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 4364.0.55.001 - National Health Survey: First Results, 2017-18. 2018. Supplementary data table 8.3
Note: In 2017-18, 33.8% of respondents aged 18 years and over did not have their height and or weight measured. For these people, height and weight were imputed using a range of information including their self-reported height and weight.
Weight status: women
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 4364.0.55.001 - National Health Survey: First Results, 2017-18. 2018. Supplementary data table 8.3
Note: In 2017-18, 33.8% of respondents aged 18 years and over did not have their height and or weight measured. For these people, height and weight were imputed using a range of information including their self-reported height and weight.
Overweight and obesity by location
Overweight and obesity was higher for Australian adults living outside major cities in 2017-18. In major cities, 65.0% of Australians were overweight or obese, compared to 72.4% in inner regional Australia and 72.2% in outer regional and remote Australia.
Overweight and obesity trends
After adjusting for age, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australian adults rose from 57.2% in 1995 to 66.4% in 2017-18. The trend was mainly driven by a rise in the prevalence of obese adults, from 19.1% to 30.8%. The prevalence of adults who were overweight but not obese remained similar, from 38.1% in 1995 to 35.6% in 2017-18.23
This animation shows how quickly obesity rates have increased in Australia.
Obesity on the rise
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. A picture of overweight and obesity in Australia. 2017, Supplementary table 8 AND Australian Bureau of Statistics, 4364.0.55.001 - National Health Survey: First Results, 2017-18. 2018, Table 1.3
Note: Prevalence estimates are age-standardised to the 2001 Australian population
Severe obesity trends
The prevalence of severe obesity has risen over the past 20 years, with the age-standardised prevalence of class II and class III obesity (body mass index of 35+) among Australian adults almost doubling, from 4.9% to 9.4% between 1995 and 2014-15.
Severe obesity on the rise
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, A picture of overweight and obesity in Australia. 2017. p19.
Note: Prevalence estimates are age-standardised to the 2001 Australian population