Obesity trends in Australian adults
In 2022–24, about two-thirds of Australian adults were living with overweight or obesity. The prevalence of having overweight or obesity is higher in men than in women. More people are living with overweight and obesity from an earlier age than before, and more people are being affected by overweight and obesity as they grow older.
Key Evidence
67.1% of Australian adults are living with overweight or obesity
Australian men aged 65 to 74 years have the highest prevalence of obesity, at 43%
Nearly three-quarters of adults in outer regional and remote Australia are living with overweight or obesity
Severe obesity (Class II and III, defined as having a BMI of 35 or more) increased from 4.9% in 1995 to 12.9% in 2022–24
Australian adults by weight status
In 2022–24, 67.1% of Australians aged 18 years and over were living with overweight or obesity. Of these, 34.3% had overweight and 32.8% had obesity. A further 31.4% were of normal weight and 1.5% were underweight.1
Australian adults by weight status, 2022–24
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity
Overweight and obesity classifications are derived from measured height and weight. Measured data from the 2022 National Health Survey (NHS) and 2023 National Nutrition Physical Activity Survey were pooled together in the 2022–24 National Health Measures Survey (NHMS). In the 2022 NHS, the non-response rate for measured height and weight was 40.8% for adults. In the 2023 NNPAS, the non-response rate was 35.5% for adults. The progress of imputation (done separately on the 2022 NHS and the 2023 NNPAS) was used to estimate missing data.
Overweight and obesity by sex
More than seven in ten (72.5%) Australian men were living with overweight or obesity in 2022–24, compared with 61.9% of women. More men (38.4%) than women (30.2%) were in the overweight category. Men (34.1%) also had a higher prevalence of obesity than women (31.7%).1
Overweight and obesity: men, 2022–24
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity
Overweight and obesity classifications are derived from measured height and weight. Measured data from the 2022 National Health Survey (NHS) and 2023 National Nutrition Physical Activity Survey were pooled together in the 2022–24 National Health Measures Survey (NHMS). In the 2022 NHS, the non-response rate for measured height and weight was 40.8% for adults. In the 2023 NNPAS, the non-response rate was 35.5% for adults. The progress of imputation (done separately on the 2022 NHS and the 2023 NNPAS) was used to estimate missing data.
Overweight and obesity: women, 2022–24
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity
Overweight and obesity classifications are derived from measured height and weight. Measured data from the 2022 National Health Survey (NHS) and 2023 National Nutrition Physical Activity Survey were pooled together in the 2022–24 National Health Measures Survey (NHMS). In the 2022 NHS, the non-response rate for measured height and weight was 40.8% for adults. In the 2023 NNPAS, the non-response rate was 35.5% for adults. The progress of imputation (done separately on the 2022 NHS and the 2023 NNPAS) was used to estimate missing data.
Overweight and obesity prevalence by age and sex
The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased with age in 2022–24, peaking for men at age 65 to 74 years (83.1%) and for women at 55 to 64 years (70.2%). More than four in ten 18-to-24-year-old men (43.2%) and women (40.5%) were living with overweight or obesity in 2022–24.1
Overweight and obesity is highest outside major cities
The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher for Australian adults living outside major cities in 2022–24. In major cities, 65% of Australians were living with overweight or obesity, compared to 72.6% in inner regional Australia and 73.6% in outer regional and remote Australia.1
The National Health Survey does not collect data from people living in areas classified as very remote.
Overweight and obesity on the rise
After adjusting for age, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity among Australian adults rose from 57.1% in 1995 to 66.1% in 2022–24. This trend was mainly driven by a rise in the prevalence of obesity among adults, from 18.9% to 32.2% over the same time period. The prevalence of adults with overweight (but not obesity) decreased slightly, from 38.2% in 1995 to 34% in 2022–24.1
Trends in overweight and obesity, 1995 – 2022–24, Australian adults (age-standardised)
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity
Rates are age standardised to the 2001 Australian population to account for differences in the age structure of the population over time. Age-standardisation of these data make them slightly different to data reported elsewhere in this section.
Severity of obesity by age and sex
Severe obesity encompasses the World Health Organization’s definitions of class II and class III obesity (a body mass index of 35 or more for class II, or 40 or more for class III). In 2022–24, more than one in ten (13%) of Australian adults aged 18 and over were living with severe obesity (with a body mass index of 35 or more).1 Prevalence of severe obesity was highest among adults aged 45–54 years (16.1%), and lowest among those aged 18–24 years (6.3%). Women had a slightly higher prevalence of living with severe obesity (13.9%) than men (12.1%).1
Trends in severe obesity
The prevalence of severe obesity has risen over the past 30 years, with the age-standardised prevalence of class II and class III obesity (BMI of 35 or more) among Australian adults increasing from 4.9% in 1995 to 12.9% in 2022–2024. Prevalence has more than tripled in men, and more than doubled in women.1
Trends in severity of obesity by age and sex, 1995 – 2022–24 (age-standardised)
Rates are age standardised to the 2001 Australian population to account for differences in the age structure of the population over time. Age-standardisation of these data make them slightly different to data reported elsewhere in this section.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity
Severe obesity is defined as obese class II and obese class III, which is equivalent to a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or higher.
Trends in waist circumference
Waist circumference can be used as an alternative to body mass index, as an indicator of an individual’s risk of developing obesity-related chronic diseases. A higher waist measurement is associated with higher body fat levels and an increased risk of chronic disease.
Abdominal overweight refers to a waist circumference of 80cm or more for women, and 94 cm or more for men. Abdominal obesity refers to a waist circumference of 88 cm in women, and 102 cm in men.
In 2022–24, 67.2% of Australian adults were living with abdominal overweight or obesity, an increase from 46.2% in 1995. Women were more likely to be living with abdominal overweight or obesity than men.1
Trends in waist circumference, men, 1995 – 2022–24 (age-standardised)
Rates are age standardised to the 2001 Australian population to account for differences in the age structure of the population over time.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity
For men, abdominal overweight refers to a waist circumference of 94 cm or more, and abdominal obesity refers to a waist circumference of 102 cm or more. For women, abdominal overweight refers to a waist circumference of 80 cm or more, and abdominal obesity refers to a waist circumference of 88 cm or more.
Trends in waist circumference, women, 1995 – 2022–24 (age-standardised)
Rates are age standardised to the 2001 Australian population to account for differences in the age structure of the population over time.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity
For men, abdominal overweight refers to a waist circumference of 94 cm or more, and abdominal obesity refers to a waist circumference of 102 cm or more. For women, abdominal overweight refers to a waist circumference of 80 cm or more, and abdominal obesity refers to a waist circumference of 88 cm or more.
Trends in waist circumference, persons, 1995 – 2022–24 (age-standardised)
Rates are age standardised to the 2001 Australian population to account for differences in the age structure of the population over time.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity
For men, abdominal overweight refers to a waist circumference of 94 cm or more, and abdominal obesity refers to a waist circumference of 102 cm or more. For women, abdominal overweight refers to a waist circumference of 80 cm or more, and abdominal obesity refers to a waist circumference of 88 cm or more.
The prevalence of obesity is higher in people born more recently than among those born in earlier birth cohorts
A birth cohort is a group of people born in the same year, or range of years. Comparison of birth cohorts has shown that people born in more recent years are more likely to be living with overweight or obesity than those from earlier birth cohorts.1 For example, 20.5% of the cohort of adults who were aged 25–34 in 2011–12 were living with obesity, compared with 29% of people in the same age-group in 2022–24. In older people (aged 75–84 in 2011–12), 26.7% were living with obesity, compared to 37.5% of people aged 75–84 ten years later in 2022–24.1
The prevalence of obesity and severe obesity (based on BMI), and abdominal obesity has increased for all birth cohorts between 1995 and 2022–24. More Australians are living with overweight and obesity at an earlier age than in previous decades, and more people are being affected by overweight and obesity as they age.2
Proportion of obesity in adults aged 15 and over, by 10 year birth cohort (born 1928–37 to 1988–1997 and 1938–47 to 1998–2007)
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity
| Age at survey | Birth cohort | % obese |
|---|---|---|
| Birth cohort born 10 years earlier (measured 2011-12) | ||
| 15–24 | 1988–1997 | 13.1 |
| 25–34 | 1978–1987 | 20.5 |
| 35–44 | 1968–1977 | 28.4 |
| 45–54 | 1958–1967 | 32.0 |
| 55–64 | 1948–1957 | 36.7 |
| 65–74 | 1938–1947 | 35.2 |
| 75–84 | 1928–1937 | 26.7 |
| Most recently born birth cohort (measured 2002-24) | ||
| 15–24 | 1998–2007 | 13.3 |
| 25–34 | 1988–1997 | 29.0 |
| 35–44 | 1978–1987 | 32.9 |
| 45–54 | 1968–1977 | 37.7 |
| 55–64 | 1958–1967 | 38.4 |
| 65–74 | 1948–1957 | 40.1 |
| 75–84 | 1938–1947 | 37.2 |
Initial content for this page was written by Melanie Nichols, Deakin University and reviewed by Kathryn Backholer and Gary Sacks, Co-Directors at the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition at Deakin University. Data updates were made in 2026 by Obesity Evidence Hub staff. For more information about the approach to content on the site please see About | Obesity Evidence Hub.