The State of Weight Loss in Australia

A comprehensive look at the latest data on weight, diet and nutrition across Australia, drawn from ABS, AIHW and peer-reviewed research.

65.8%

Adults overweight or obese

ABS NHS 2022-23

31.7%

Adults classified as obese

ABS NHS 2022-23

94%

Adults not eating enough vegetables

AIHW 2024

1 in 4

Following a diet or eating pattern

ABS NNPAS 2023

Section 1

Overweight and Obesity Overview

BMI Classification of Australian Adults

Measured and imputed body mass index, adults aged 18+

31.7%Obese

34.0%Overweight

31.6%Normal weight

1.6%Underweight

31.7% of Australian adults are now classified as obese, the highest rate ever recorded nationally.

Source: ABS National Health Survey 2022-23

41.8% of respondents did not have height/weight measured; imputation was used.

Section 2

Obesity Trend Over Time

Overweight vs Obese Rates, 1995 to 2022-23

Percentage of Australian adults by BMI category over time

Source: ABS National Health Surveys. Obesity Evidence Hub.

56.3%

Combined 1995

64.8%

Combined 2022-23

+69%

Obesity increase since 1995

Childhood Overweight and Obesity

Percentage of children aged 2-17 who are overweight or obese

Source: AIHW Overweight and Obesity 2024. ABS NHS.

Severe Obesity (BMI 40+)

Percentage of adults with severe obesity

Severe obesity (BMI 40+) more than doubled between 2007-08 and 2022-23.

4.6%in 2022-23

2.2%in 2007-08

Source: ABS NHS 2022. Obesity Evidence Hub.

Section 3

Gender Breakdown

Overweight and Obesity by Gender

Percentage of Australian adults by BMI category and gender

71.2%

of men are overweight or obese

60.5%

of women are overweight or obese

Men are more likely to be overweight, while obesity rates are similar across genders.

Source: ABS National Health Survey 2022-23

Section 4

Age Distribution

Overweight and Obesity by Age Group and Gender

Percentage of adults who are overweight or obese

Source: ABS National Health Survey 2022-23

Rates of overweight and obesity increase with age, peaking in the 65-74 age group for men (81.4%) and 55-64 for women (69.5%).

Section 5

State and Territory Comparison

Overweight and Obesity by State and Territory

Percentage of adults who are overweight or obese, sorted highest to lowest

Source: ABS NHS State and Territory Findings 2022

State	Overweight/obese (%)	Fruit not met (%)	Veg not met (%)	High BP (%)	Daily smoker (%)	Alcohol exceeded (%)
New South Wales	63.1	54.2	93.2	23.8	10	25.2
Victoria	65.3	55.3	93.6	23.9	9.3	24.3
Queensland	68.8	57.1	94.9	20	14	29.4
South Australia	68	58.3	92.2	26.9	9.7	29.3
Western Australia	68	56.2	92.3	24.2	10.5	29.9
Tasmania	70.5	58.7	89.1	29.2	12.4	28.9
Northern Territory	63.8	59.9	93.9	19.6	13.5	31.1
ACT	64	58.6	92.3	22.6	5.9	27.4
Australia	65.8	55.8	93.5	23.3	10.6	26.8

Section 6

Geographic Remoteness

Overweight and Obesity by Remoteness Area

Percentage of adults who are overweight or obese

Source: ABS NHS 2022-23

HILDA Obesity Odds Ratios by Location Type

Odds of obesity relative to major city urban areas (reference = 1.00)

Source: Keramat et al. (2021), Scientific Reports. HILDA waves 6-19, 199,675 observations.

Obesity by Socioeconomic Area

Odds of obesity relative to most advantaged areas (reference = 1.00)

Source: Keramat et al. (2021), MDPI Obesities. HILDA waves 6-19.

Adults in the most disadvantaged areas are more than twice as likely to be obese compared to those in the most advantaged areas.

Section 7

HILDA Longitudinal Study

Weight Trends from the HILDA Panel, 2006 to 2019

Percentage of adults who are overweight/obese and obese only

Source: Keramat et al. (2021). HILDA Survey waves 6-19, 199,675 observations from 26,713 individuals.

BMI Category Transition Probabilities Over 5 Years

Probability of transitioning between BMI categories over a 5-year period

Source: PMC5334731, HILDA 2005-2010

26,713

Unique individuals

Annual waves

1.6%

Obese to normal probability

Section 8

Diet Quality

Meeting Fruit and Vegetable Guidelines

Percentage of Australians meeting daily intake recommendations

Source: ABS NNPAS 2023. AIHW Diet 2024.

8,667 kJ

Average daily energy

31.3%

Energy from discretionary foods

8.2%

Energy from free sugars

28.9% consumed sweetened beverages on survey day.
23.8% consumed soft drinks and flavoured mineral waters.
25.4% of all free sugars came from sweetened beverages.
Daily sodium: approximately 2,400mg (approximately 1 teaspoon of salt).
65.6% of adults exceed the Suggested Dietary Target for sodium (2,000mg).

Diet Risk Factors at a Glance

Percentage of Australian adults with each risk factor

94%Not meeting veg guideline

65.6%Sodium above target

56%Not meeting fruit guideline

31.3%Discretionary foods

28.9%Sweetened beverages

24.9%Following a diet

Source: ABS NNPAS 2023

Section 9

Popular Diets

Types of Diets Followed

Among adults who report following a diet or eating pattern

Source: ABS NNPAS 2023

Trending Diets in Australia

Percentage of adults who have tried or follow each diet

Source: Finder.com.au Diet Statistics 2024 (n=2,016)

Dieting by Generation

Percentage of each generation currently following or planning to try a diet

Source: Finder.com.au 2024

Motivations for Reducing Meat Consumption

Top reasons Australians give for eating less meat

Source: Food Frontier Consumer Survey 2024

24% of Australians follow a diet (Finder 2024).
21% identify as “meat reducers” (Food Frontier 2024).
79% go meat-free at least one day per week (Food Frontier 2024).
41% have tried plant-based milks; 34% consume weekly (Food Frontier 2024).
35% have tried plant-based meats (Food Frontier 2024).

Section 10

Food Insecurity and Supplements

13.2% of Australian households experienced food insecurity in 2023 (approximately 1.3 million households).

ABS NNPAS 2023

Lone parent families with dependent children: 34.0% food insecure.
Group households: 27.8% food insecure.
33.6% of Australians took a dietary supplement in 2023.
Vitamin/mineral supplements are the most common type (29.7%).

Dietary Supplement Use by Gender

Percentage of adults who take at least one supplement regularly

33.6% of Australians took a dietary supplement in 2023. Vitamin/mineral supplements are the most common type (29.7%).

43.7%

of women use supplements

30.8%

of men use supplements

Source: ABS NNPAS 2023

Section 11

Projections

Projected Adult Obesity Rate, 2020 to 2035

Forecast based on current trends

Source: World Obesity Federation, World Obesity Atlas 2023

47%

Projected by 2035

$87.7B

Economic cost by 2032

2.5%

Of GDP

2.2% annual increase projected for adults (2020-2035).
2.6% annual increase projected for children.
Socioeconomic inequality in obesity is widening: 11% gap between low and high SES for men born in 1970 at age 60 (no gap existed for 1940 birth cohort).

Section 12