Obesity trends in Australian adults
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