This report examines the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australia, using Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference as key indicators. It explores how these conditions affect different population groups.
In 2022, 26% of children aged 2 to 17 and 66% of adults in Australia were classified as overweight or obese. While adult rates have stayed the same since 2017-18, they have risen significantly from 56% in 1995, mainly due to increasing obesity.
The data highlights differences across regions and socioeconomic groups. Overweight and obesity are more common in regional and remote communities than in major cities and are more prevalent in lower-income areas. Among First Nations adults, rates are higher than in non-Indigenous Australians (74% vs 66%).
Globally, Australia ranks 10th among OECD countries for overweight and obesity, with a prevalence rate of 64%, exceeding the OECD average of 59%.
The health effects are substantial. Excess weight is the second-largest contributor to disease burden, responsible for 8.4% of all cases. It is linked to around 30 severe health conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and various cancers.
Australia’s National Obesity Strategy 2022-2032 and National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-2030 focus on reversing obesity trends in adults and cutting childhood overweight and obesity rates by at least 5% by 2030.
