About two-thirds (66-67%) of Australian adults are overweight or obese, with roughly 34% classified as overweight (but not obese) and another 32% as obese, according to 2022-23 data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). This means 34% are overweight and 32% are obese, making 66% overweight or obese in total.
Body Mass Index (BMI) prevalence
In 2022, almost two thirds (65.8%) of adults were overweight or obese. Of all adults: A small proportion (1.6%) were underweight. Three in ten (31.6%) were within the healthy weight range.
West Virginia topped WalletHub's 2025 ranking of the most overweight and obese states in the U.S., published Nov. 4, while Colorado is the healthiest-weight state.
This puts Australia in the top quarter of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries for measured obesity, ahead of the United Kingdom (26.2 per cent of the population) and Ireland (23 per cent), on a par with New Zealand (31.6 per cent), but behind the United States of America (40 per cent) ...
The rise in obesity has been attributed to poor eating habits in the country closely related to the availability of fast food since the 1970s, sedentary lifestyles and a decrease in the labour workforce.
AUSTRALIA has overtaken the United States as the world's most obese nation, a new report says.
Tamworth, New South Wales.
Diet and lifestyle factors contribute to development of obesity and overweight. Some of the most common ones are: eating large amounts of processed or fast food – this is food that's high in fat and sugar. drinking too much alcohol – alcohol contains a lot of calories.
The most well-known is ghrelin, the 'hunger hormone', which is mainly secreted by the stomach. If you don't sleep enough, levels of that hormone will be higher, and you will feel hungrier and consume more calories. Over the long term, this leads to weight gain.
Percentage of obese U.S. adults by state 2023
The states with the lowest percentage of their population who are obese include Colorado, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.
By 2050, we forecast that 2.2 million Australian children and adolescents will be living with obesity. A further 1.6 million will be overweight. This is a combined prevalence of 50% – and an increase of 146% between 1990 and 2050.
Your waist size may tell a bigger story about your long-term health risks than your BMI. The average waist size for U.S. women is 38.5 inches, indicating widespread abdominal obesity. Larger waist sizes are linked with increased risks of chronic diseases, like heart disease and diabetes.
Obesity rates among Gen Z in the U.S. as of 2024
Using data from UnitedHealth Group and the Health Action Council, the rate of obesity among Gen Z females was estimated to be nine percent. In comparison, around five percent of Gen Z males were thought to be obese.
Dietary changes. Reducing calories and practicing healthier eating habits are key to overcoming obesity. Although you may lose weight quickly at first, steady weight loss over the long term is considered the safest way to lose weight. It's also the best way to keep weight off permanently.
Sleep deprivation has long been linked to an increased risk of becoming overweight or obese. Researchers found that getting less than seven hours of sleep resulted in weight changes and may lead to weight gain, either by increasing food intake or decreasing energy burned.
Mungallala Methodist Church was built in 1964. It has now closed. In 2016, the Australian Taxation Office listed Mungallala as having the lowest mean taxable income by postcode, making it the poorest town in Australia, which led the ABC to do a documentary on the town for their online "storyhunters" program.
Overweight and obesity by state and territory
The highest prevalence of obesity in 2017–18 was in Tasmania (11.4%), and the lowest was in Western Australia (7.2%). These maps show the proportion of boys and girls with overweight or obesity, in each jurisdiction.
Rockhampton. Rockhampton is the most dangerous city in Australia. According to the reports, it has a crime index of 67.2, which is one of the major contributors to the country's higher rate. It has a crime rate of 132 per 1000 people, with most of the cases for theft, burglary, and assault.
The right variety and amount of exercise can both reduce body weight and prevent weight regain. In addition, it may improve: Endocrine and immune body responses related to adipose tissue dysfunction, including insulin sensitivity.
The report found that the typical Australian male is overweight at a height of 175 cm and weight of 87 kg, with the typical female is also overweight at 161 cm and 72 kg.
Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products. Includes a variety of protein foods. Healthful options include seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), soy products, nuts, and seeds.