• Overview
  • Obesity prevalence
  • Trends over time
  • Contextual factors
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Obesity prevalence

Adults, 2022-2023

Survey type:Measured
Age:18+
Sample size:~12846
Area covered:National
References:Australian National Health Survey 2022-2023. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/waist-circumference-and-bmi/2022#body-mass-index-bmi- (Accessed 03.01.2024)
Notes:Provision of height, weight and waist measurements were voluntary. Self-reported health status, height, and weight was collected for all participants. In 2022, 41.8% of adult respondents 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
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2017-2018

Survey type:Measured
Age:18+
Sample size:21000
Area covered:National
References:Australian National Health Survey 2017-18 (provisional results). http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4364.0.55.001~2017-18~Main%20Features~About%20the%20National%20Health%20Survey~5 (accessed 12.12.18)
Notes:Around 32% of those measured in 2017 did not have height & weight measured, they used self report
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2014-2015

Survey type:Measured
Age:18+
Sample size:14561
Area covered:National
References:Australian National Health Survey, 2014-15 First Results. Australian Bureau of Statistics. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4364.0.55.001Appendix22014-15?opendocument&tabname=Notes&prodno=4364.0.55.001&issue=2014-15&num=&view= (last accessed 27th September 2017)
Notes:Body Mass Index is derived from measured height and weight. In 2014-15, 26.8% of respondents aged 18 years and over did not have their height, weight or both measured. For these respondents, imputation was used to obtain height, weight and BMI scores. For more information see Appendix 2: Physical measurements in the National Health Survey, see link in referencde
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2011-2012

Survey type:Measured
Age:18+
Sample size:9019
Area covered:National
References:Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2015. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease—Australian facts: Risk factors. Cardiovascular, diabetes and chronic kidney disease series no. 4. Cat. no. CDK 4. Canberra: AIHW. ABS 2013a. Australian Health Survey: biomedical results for chronic diseases, 2011–12. ABS. cat. no. 4364.0.55.005. Canberra: ABS. Australian Health Survey 2011-12. http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=60129550538
Notes:Check original to confirm sample size, 9019 is understood to be the sample size More recent data for combined Overweight & Obesity available at Australian Health Survey First Results 2014-15 (http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/CDA852A349B4CEE6CA257F150009FC53/$File/national%20health%20survey%20first%20results,%202014-15.pdf last accessed 4th January 2017)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2007-2008

Survey type:Measured
Age:15+
Sample size:11247
Area covered:National
References:National Health Survey: Summary of Results 2009 (4364). Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2007-2008

Survey type:Measured
Age:18+
Sample size:16601
Area covered:National
References:Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). National Health Survey: Summary of results. Canberra, Australia, ABS, 2009. WHO Global InfoBase reference:102910
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 1999-2000

Survey type:Measured
Age:25-84
Sample size:11247
Area covered:National
References:Cameron, A.J., Welborn, A.T., Zimmet, P.Z., Dunstan, D.W., Owen, N., Salmon, J., Dalton, M., Jolley, D. and Shaw, J.E. Overweight and obesity in Australia:the 1999 - 2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab). Med J Aust 2003 5;178 (9), 427 - 432. PubMed ID: 12720507
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 1980

Survey type:Measured
Age:25-64
References:Bennett SA, Magnus P (on behalf of the Risk Factor Prevalence Study Management Committee of the National Heart Foundation of Australia). Trends in cardiovascular risk factors in Australia. Results from the National heart Foundation’s Risk Factor Prevalence Study, 1980-1989, the Medical Journal of Australia 1994;161:519-527
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Children, 2022-2023

Survey type:Measured
Age:5-17
Sample size:~4222
Area covered:National
References:Australian National Health Survey 2022-2023. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/waist-circumference-and-bmi/2022#body-mass-index-bmi- (Accessed 03.01.2024)
Notes:Provision of height, weight and waist measurements were voluntary. Self-reported health status, height, and weight was collected for all participants. In 2022, 56.8% of child respondents 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
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2017-2018

Survey type:Measured
Age:5-17
Sample size:3769
Area covered:National
References:Australian National Health Survey 2017-18 https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/national-health-survey-first-results/latest-release#chronic-conditions (accessed 02.10.2020)
Notes:Approximately 43% of those measured in 2017 did not have height & weight measured, self-report was used instead
Definitions:Cut off: Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM and Dietz WH, Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey, BMJ 2000; 320.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2014-2015

Survey type:Measured
Age:5-17
Sample size:4033
Area covered:National
References:Australian Health Survey First Results 2014-15 (http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/CDA852A349B4CEE6CA257F150009FC53/$File/national%20health%20survey%20first%20results,%202014-15.pdf last accessed 4th January 2017)
Cutoffs:Other

Children, 2012

Survey type:Measured
Age:7-17
Sample size:12869
Area covered:National
References:O'Dea JA, Dibley MJ. Prevalence of obesity, overweight and thinness in Australian children and adolescents by socioeconomic status and ethnic/cultural group in 2006 and 2012. International Journal of Public Health October 2014, Volume 59, Issue 5, pp 819-828
Notes:IOTF Cut off point Age range approximate uses children from School Year 3-10
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2007

Survey type:Measured
Age:2-16
Sample size:4487
Area covered:National
References:Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2007 - Main Findings. Australian Government, Australian Food and Grocery Council, Australian Government Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Notes:IOTF Cut off. Reference: Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: International survey. BMJ. 2000 May 6;320(7244):1240-3.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2003-2004

Survey type:Measured
Age:6-11
Sample size:2184
Area covered:Regional
References:Sanigorski AM, Bell AC, Kremer PJ, Swinburn BA. High Childhood Obesity in an Australian Population. Obesity 2007;15:1908-1912
Notes:IOTF International Cut off points applied.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 1997

Survey type:Measured
Age:7-15
Sample size:5518
Area covered:National
References:Booth ML, Dobbins T, Okely D, Denney-Wilson E and Hardy LL. 2007. Trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among young Australians, 1985, 1997 and 2004. Obesity, 15 (5): 1089 - 1095.
Notes:IOTF Cut off. Reference: Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: International survey. BMJ. 2000 May 6;320(7244):1240-3. Sample size includes children aged 13-15yrs
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 1997

Survey type:Measured
Age:10+
Sample size:452
References:Bellizzi MC, Horgan GW, Guillaume M, Dietz WH. Prevalence of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity in Asian and European countries. In: Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence. Editors: Chunming Chen, William H. Dietz. Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series Pediatric Program. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2002.
Notes:IOTF International Cut off points applied
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 1995

Survey type:Measured
Age:7-11
Sample size:2962
References:Magarey AM, Daniels LA, Boulton TJC. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australian children and adolescents: reassesment of 1985 and 1995 data against new standard international definitions. MJA 2001;174:561-564
Notes:IOTF Cut off. Reference: Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: International survey. BMJ. 2000 May 6;320(7244):1240-3.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 1985

Survey type:Measured
Age:7-11
Sample size:8492
References:Magarey AM, Daniels LA, Boulton TJC. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australian children and adolescents: reassesment of 1985 and 1995 data against new standard international definitions. MJA 2001;174:561-564
Notes:IOTF Cut off. Reference: Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: International survey. BMJ. 2000 May 6;320(7244):1240-3.
Cutoffs:IOTF

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