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Trends: Children

Obesity trends in Australian children

Last updated 28-07-2026

More than a quarter of Australian children and adolescents were living with overweight or obesity in 2022–24.

Key Evidence

01

The prevalence of overweight among Australians aged 2 to 17 years was 18.3% , and the prevalence of obesity was 8.1% in 2022–23

02

In 2022–24, 18.5% of children aged 2–17 were living with overweight, and a further 8.5% were living with obesity

03

31.6% of males aged 16–17 years were living with overweight or obesity in 2022–24

04

30.9%% children aged 2–17 years in inner regional areas of Australia were living with overweight or obesity in 2022–24

05

The prevalence of overweight or obesity increased in children aged 5–17 from 20.1% in 1995 to 28.1% in 2022–24

Overweight and obesity in Australian children aged 2 – 17 years

In 2022–24, more than one quarter (26.9%) of children aged 2–17 years were living with overweight or obesity —18.5%% with overweight and 8.5% with obesity.1

The highest rate of overweight and obesity among boys was in 16–17-year-olds. Almost one-third (31.6%) of boys in this age group were living with overweight or obesity. Of these, 17.9% were living with overweight, and a further 13.7% were living with obesity. Among girls, the highest prevalence of overweight or obesity was in 8–11-year-olds (30.6%). Of these, 20.7% were living with overweight, and an additional 9.9% were living with obesity.1

Overweight and obesity by age, boys, 2022–24

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity

In 2022, 56.8% of children aged 2–17 years old did not have measured height or weight. In the 2023 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, 44.9% of children aged 2–17 did not have measured height or weight. For these respondents, imputation was used to obtain height, weight and BMI data.

Overweight but not obese Obese Overweight or obese

Overweight and obesity by age, girls, 2022–24

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity

In 2022, 56.8% of children aged 2–17 years old did not have measured height or weight. In the 2023 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, 44.9% of children aged 2–17 did not have measured height or weight. For these respondents, imputation was used to obtain height, weight and BMI data.

Overweight but not obese Obese Overweight or obese

Overweight and obesity by age, all children, 2022–24

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity

In 2022, 56.8% of children aged 2–17 years old did not have measured height or weight. In the 2023 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, 44.9% of children aged 2–17 did not have measured height or weight. For these respondents, imputation was used to obtain height, weight and BMI data.

Overweight but not obese Obese Overweight or obese

Overweight and obesity by remoteness area

In 2022–24, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher among children and adolescents aged 2–17 years who were living in inner regional areas, compared with children living in major cities and outer regional and remote areas.1

Overweight and obesity by remoteness area, 2022–24

Remoteness area uses Australian Statistical Geography Standard Remoteness Structure, 2021. Excludes Very remote areas of Australia.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity

In 2022, 56.8% of children aged 2–17 years old did not have measured height or weight. In the 2023 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, 44.9% of children aged 2–17 did not have measured height or weight. For these respondents, imputation was used to obtain height, weight and BMI data.

Overweight but not obese Obese Overweight or obese

Trends in overweight and obesity

In 2022–24, more than a quarter (28.1%) of children aged 5–17 were living with overweight or obesity, up from 20.1% in 1995. Prevalence of overweight or obesity combined, plateaued between 2007–08 and 2017–18, but increased in 2022–24, due to a rise in the prevalence of overweight (but not obesity).1

Trends in overweight and obesity, 1995 – 2022–24

In 1995, 2007–08 and 2011–12, children who did not have a measured BMI were excluded from analysis. Estimates presented for 1995, 2007–08 and 2011–12 use published ABS data. In 2014–15 and 2017–18, imputation was used to obtain BMI for children aged 2-17 years who did not have a measured Body Mass Index (BMI) (37.7% of children for 2014–15, 43.9% for 2017–18 and 56.8% in 2022).

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2026. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity

In 2022, 56.8% of children aged 2–17 years old did not have measured height or weight. In the 2023 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, 44.9% of children aged 2–17 did not have measured height or weight. For these respondents, imputation was used to obtain height, weight and BMI data.

Overweight but not obese Obese Overweight or obese

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.

References

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity: AIHW, Australian Government; 2026 Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity.