How many Australian adults are overweight?
• The 1999-2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study indicated over seven million adult Australians aged 25 years and over (60%) were overweight. Of these, over two million (21%) were obese. • Men were more likely than women to be overweight, with 67% of men compared with 52% of women (aged 25 years and over) being overweight. • There have been significant increases in the proportions of overweight and obese Australians over the last 20 years. From 1980 to 1999-2000, for people aged 25-64 years, the proportion of overweight women increased from 27% to 47%, and the proportion of overweight men increased from 47% to 66%. • On average, women in 1999 weighed 4.8 kg more than their counterparts in 1980, and men 3.6 kg more.
