Overweight and obesity rates

across Australia, 201112

Published October 2013
This report for the first time presents overweight and obesity rates
at the local level across Australia.

Overweight and obesity:

range across local areas

In 201112, 10.8 million adults were either overweight or obese, and of these
4.7 million were obese.*

49%

This report shows that the percentage of adults who were obese varied threefold across local areas, from 14% in Sydney North Shore and Beaches to 41%
in Loddon-Mallee-Murray. In three-quarters or more of communities for which
we have comparable data, one in four adults were obese in 201112.
The percentage of adults who were overweight or obese increased with
geographic remoteness and lower socioeconomic status. Yet still half of adults
(54%) in the wealthiest urban areas were overweight or obese, and two in 10
(19%) were obese.
Overweight and obesity rates are increasing rapidly across Australia. In 1989,
44% of adults were overweight or obese, rising to 63% in 201112.1,2 Health
problems related to excess body weight impact the health care system, as well
as individuals, families and the community.

Eastern
Sydney

Medicare Local

79%
Western
NSW

Medicare Local

Obesity imposed an estimated $2 billion in direct costs on Australias health

system in 2008.3 People who are obese face health care costs that are 30%
higher than those with more healthy body weights.4 Australia has guidelines to
assist health professionals in helping people who are overweight or obese.5

National overweight and obesity trends

70

63%

Medicare Local name

Obesity rate (%)

50

Loddon-Mallee-Murray

41%

40

Country South SA

40%

60
Per cent (%)

Local areas with highest obesity rates

Overweight or obese

30

Overweight

Central Qld

39%

20

Obesity

Townsville-Mackay

38%

West Moreton-Oxley

38%

Perth South Coastal

38%

10
0

19892

19958

Year

2007088 2011121

Sources and references can be found in the Technical Note at www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au/publications

Visit www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au for more detailed results

Key findings
Variation across Australia

Variation across states and territories

In 201112, almost three in 10 adults (28%) were obese

compared to one in 10 (11%) in 1989.1,2 With more than
one in four adults now obese, Australia ranks seventh
among developed countries for rates of obesity for
people aged 15 years and over.6

The five local areas with the highest percentages of

overweight or obese adults were regional and rural
catchments in five states:

High rates of overweight and obesity occur in all local

areas including wealthy inner-city suburbs and rural and
disadvantaged communities.

New South Wales

Western NSW

79%

Queensland

Townsville-Mackay

75%

South Australia

Country South SA

75%

Victoria

Gippsland

75%

Western Australia

Goldfields-Midwest

74%

Across all local areas, Western NSW had the highest

rate, with almost eight in 10 adults being overweight
or obese (79%) compared to five in 10 adults (49%) in
Eastern Sydney.

When only obese adults were considered, half of the

six local areas with the highest percentages were
in Queensland.

To allow fairer comparisons to be made between

the Medicare Local areas for which there were data,
Medicare Local catchments have been grouped
into seven peer groups based on similar geographic
remoteness and socioeconomic status.

The five local areas with the lowest percentages of

overweight and obese adults were all in the Metro 1
peer group and in New South Wales or Victoria. The
same five local areas also had the lowest percentages
of obese adults.

Across metropolitan areas, five in 10 adults were

overweight or obese in the wealthiest inner-city suburbs
(Metro 1 peer group) compared to six in 10 in lowerincome communities (Metro 2 and 3). In regional or rural
local areas, between six and seven in 10 adults were
overweight or obese.
Obesity by itself followed a similar pattern. Across
metropolitan areas, two in 10 adults were obese in the
wealthiest inner city suburbs (Metro 1) compared to
three in 10 in lower-income urban communities (Metro
2 and 3). In regional or rural local areas, anywhere from
two to four in 10 adults were obese.
Prevention

smoke daily
Adults who
201112
Year of data:

adults
percentage of
In 201112, the
6% to 28%.
ranging from

of adults who
Percentage
smokers, 201112

who smoked

across
10
daily varied

Medicare Local

catchments,

are daily
311

nts
Local catchme
Results for Medicare
to lowest and
11
from highest
were ranked
ed groups.
five equal-siz
then split into
each of the
The range within follows:
was as
five groups

701

310

vi.

508

107
................................. 201
Northern Sydney
...........................
801
#
Inner NW Melbourne
Territory .................
Australian Capital ............................. 101
Eastern Sydney.................................... 102
Inner West Sydney ............................. 202
Bayside ................. .......................... 206
Inner East Melbourne& Beaches# ......... 108
Shore
Sydney North

308

309

204
& NW Melb ............. 305
..........
Macedon Ranges
ley .................
401
West Moreton-Ox
...............................
Northern Adelaide ............................ 205
...... 104
Northern Melbourne
Sydney ................. .. 208
South Western
Melbourne.................. 105
South Eastern
............................
Western Sydney......

307

Regional 1

114

Highest
group
Lowest
group

14 16%

v.

6 13%
Not available
publication

213

506

for

214

404
211

ii.

i.

116

i. Perth and areas

surrounding

306

215

216

and
ii. Adelaide
areas
surrounding
405

505

506

402

102 101

SUNSHINE
COAST

SYDNEY

104

CANBERRA

301
103

306

211

204

203
404

BRISBANE

216
305
801

205

117

207

110

WOLLONGON

302

GOLD
COAST
303

206
113

202

MELBOURNE

208

217

210
209

403
GEELONG

from
confidence level)
(at the 95%
significant variation
Statistically
areas.
result.
in very remote
the peer group
>5% of its population if <3.5%.
shown
This area has

interval not
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althycomm
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More information Technical Note.
and in this reports

#
a day.
at least once
cigars or pipes
n cigarettes,
roll-your-ow
and over.
or more cigarettes,
aged 18 years
smokes one
to participants
person who
excluded.
An adult refers
defined as a
Note.
o products were
s.
smoker was
group.
of non-tobacc
reports Technical Strait Islander communitie
A current daily
and the smoking been assigned to a quintile group results refer to this
Torres
has
Aboriginal and
Chewing tobacco
of peer
Local catchment
and the calculation remote areas, and discrete
Each Medicare
on peer groups
11.
dwellings, very
Note.
For more information living in non-private
Survey 201113.
12.
reports Technical
excludes adults
Australian Health unities.gov.au and in this
Notes: Survey
Bureau of Statistics,
althycomm
.au
www.myhe
at
Source: Australian
unities.gov
can be found
althycomm
More information
d from www.myhe
downloade
Data can be

9.
10.

107 108

215

201

ADELAIDE
504

304
105

and
iv. Canberra
areas
surrounding

214

501
503

307

106

601

502

ROCKINGHA

and
vi. Brisbane
areas
surrounding

109

401

PERTH

NEWCASTLE

117

217

map are
Numbers on
reference codes
Medicare Local

e and
iii. Melbourn
areas
surrounding

Regional 2

111

212

iii.

Medicare Local
catchment boundary

v. Sydney and areas

surrounding

iv.

22%
19%
18%
17%
16%
15%
14%

106
......................
e Mountains
110
Nepean-Blu
...........................
Illawarra-Shoalhaven Peninsula ......... 209
ornington
........... 505
Frankston-M
Coastal .................
............ 109
Perth South
NSW.................
210
Central Coast
.............................. 111
Barwon .................
............................... 304
Hunter .................
..................................
Sunshine Coast

113

111

115

30% 40%
10% 20%

0%

Also now available:

17%

Metro 3

118

405

30% 40%
10% 20%

0%

16%

22%
. 203
20%
Melbourne .................
South Western # .............................. 504
17%
adale
207
Bentley-Arm
..............................
17%
Eastern Melbourne Brisbane ............. 302
16%
South
Greater Metro
.............. 502
16%
Metro .................
......... 301
Perth North
16%
Brisbane.................
501
Metro North
..................
15%
& East Metro
303
Perth Central
........................
14%
...... 402
Gold Coast .................
& Hills ................. # .. 403
13%
Central Adelaide
aroo Is.
13%
eurieu-Kang
103
.......
Sthn Adelaide-Fl
12%
Sydney .................
503
South Eastern
.........................
#
Fremantle .................

306

507

17 18%

30% 40%
10% 20%

0%

14%
13%
13%
11%
10%
10%
8%
6%

Metro 2

22 28%
19 21%

In 201112, 36% of adults nationally were found

to be in the healthy weight range.1

10%

Metro 1

more fairly, each

Medicare Locals
into
To compare
been grouped
catchment has
ess
Medicare Local
12 , based on remoten
peer groups
one of seven
This allows:
onomic status.
ed
and socioec
ents to be compar
Local catchm
Medicare
regional or rural
litan,
metropo
within the same
and
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peer
ed
ents to be compar
Local catchm
Medicare
group.
for their peer
with the average
peer
seen across
variation to be
ess
It also allows
with remoten
be associated
groups that may
onomic status.
and socioec

The Council of Australian Governments has set

a target by 2018 to increase the proportion of
the population in the healthy weight range by
5 percentage points over the 2009 baseline,
from 37% to 42%.7

National overviews

Map Ref.

Peer groups

ons
Fair comparis

Where to from here?

0%

30% 40%
10% 20%

17%
21%
20%
19%
18%
17%
14%
14%
14%
0%

30% 40%
10% 20%

19%

28%
...... 211
# ..................................
23%
. 215
Grampians
22%
.................................. 216
Goulburn Valley
................................ 307
22%
Hume .................
...........................
21%
Wide Bay ................. ........................ 214
21%
Loddon-Mallee-Murray ..................... 114
21%
.................
601
New England
...........................
20%
... 115
Tasmania .................
20%
.................................. 506
Western NSW
.................
20%
WA .................
South West
............. 212
19%
Coast .................
Great South
.............. 404
17%
SA .................
306
......
Country South
Qld .................
17%
.. 117
Darling Downs-SW
15%
.................................. 217
Southern NSW
..........................
14%
113
Gippsland .................
.............
#
NP
NSW .................
116
North Coast
...................
ee .................
Murrumbidg

0%

30% 40%
10% 20%

23%

Rural 1

............. 310
ackay .................
Townsville-M
............. 405
SA .................
308
Country North
........................
. 118
Central Qld .................
..................................
... 213
Far West NSW
..................................
Lower Murray

Rural 2

........... 507

idwest .................
.. 311
Goldfields-M
.................................. 701
Far North Qld
..............................
Northern Territory .............................. 309
Qld
Central & NW
............. 508

ilbara .................
Kimberley-P

23%
23%
22%
16%
NP
0%

30% 40%
10% 20%

25%
26%
25%
24%
NP
NP

Healthy Communities: Overweight and obesity rates across Australia, 201112

In Focus: Tobacco smoking rates

across Australia, 201112
For more information, go to
www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au

Prevention
Prevention

Adults
Adults who
who are
are overweight
overweight or
or obese
obese

Fair
Fair comparisons
comparisons

Year
Yearofofdata:
data:201112
201112

Medicare
MedicareLocal
Localcatchments
catchmentstotobe
becompared
compared
within
withinthe
thesame
samemetropolitan,
metropolitan,regional
regionalororrural
rural
peer
peergroup,
group,and
and

Percentage
Percentageofofadults
adultswho
whoare
are
overweight
overweightororobese,
obese,201112
201112

Medicare
MedicareLocal
Localcatchments
catchmentstotobe
becompared
compared
with
withthe
theaverage
averagefor
fortheir
theirpeer
peergroup.
group.

311
311

Results
Resultsfor
forMedicare
MedicareLocal
Localcatchments
catchments
were
wereranked
rankedfrom
fromhighest
highesttotolowest
lowestand
and
then
thensplit
splitinto
intofive
fiveequal-sized
equal-sizedgroups.
groups.
The
Therange
rangewithin
withineach
eachofofthe
the
five
fivegroups
groupswas
wasasasfollows:
follows:

701
701
508
508

310
310

vi.vi.
309
309

70
70 79%
79%

ItItalso
alsoallows
allowsvariation
variationtotobe
beseen
seenacross
acrosspeer
peer
groups
groupsthat
thatmay
maybe
beassociated
associatedwith
withremoteness
remoteness
and
andsocioeconomic
socioeconomicstatus.
status.

308
308
307
307

66
66 69%
69%
306
306

63
63 65%
65%

507
507

Lowest
Lowest
group
group

59
59 62%
62%

113
114
114 113

405
405

49
49 58%
58%

115
115
213
213
404
404

i. i.

Medicare
MedicareLocal
Local
catchment
catchmentboundary
boundary

211
211

v.v.Sydney
Sydneyand
and
surrounding
surroundingareas
areas

iv.iv.

214
214
211
211

ii.ii.

v.v.

216
216
215
215

111
111

117
117

NEWCASTLE
NEWCASTLE

217
217

212
212

vi.vi.Brisbane
Brisbaneand
and
surrounding
surroundingareas
areas

iii.iii.

Numbers
Numberson
onmap
mapare
are
Medicare
MedicareLocal
Localreference
referencecodes
codes

ii.ii.Adelaide
Adelaideand
and
surrounding
surroundingareas
areas

109
109

106
106

iii.iii.Melbourne
Melbourneand
and
surrounding
surroundingareas
areas

iv.iv.Canberra
Canberraand
and
surrounding
surroundingareas
areas

214
214
502
502

PERTH
PERTH

401
401

405
405
211
211

307
307

CANBERRA
CANBERRA

104
104

304
304

107
107108
108

102
102101
101

ADELAIDE
ADELAIDE

402
402

103
103

204
204
201
201
206
206
203
203
202
202

404
404

506
506
403
403

210
210

MELBOURNE
MELBOURNE

SUNSHINE
SUNSHINE
COAST
COAST

SYDNEY
SYDNEY

301
301

306
306

205
205

503
503
504
504

505
505

105
105

215
215

501
501

ROCKINGHAM
ROCKINGHAM

216
216

BRISBANE
BRISBANE

801
801

207
207

117
117
208
208

110
110

WOLLONGONG
WOLLONGONG

305
305
302
302

217
217

GOLD
GOLD
COAST
COAST
303
303

209
209
GEELONG
GEELONG

113
113

Note:
Note: Survey
Surveyexcludes
excludesadults
adultsliving
livingininnon-private
non-privatedwellings,
dwellings,very
veryremote
remoteareas,
areas,and
anddiscrete
discreteAboriginal
Aboriginaland
andTorres
TorresStrait
StraitIslander
Islandercommunities.
communities.
Source:
Source: Australian
AustralianBureau
BureauofofStatistics,
Statistics,Australian
AustralianHealth
HealthSurvey
Survey201113.
201113.
Data
Datacan
canbebedownloaded
downloadedfrom
fromwww.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au

www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au

South
203
SouthWestern
WesternMelbourne
Melbourne..................
..................
203
Sthn
403
SthnAdelaide-Fleurieu-Kangaroo
Adelaide-Fleurieu-KangarooIs.Is.......
403
Bentley-Armadale
504
Bentley-Armadale...............................
...............................
504
Gold
.........................................
303
GoldCoast
Coast
.........................................
303
Central
.......................
402
CentralAdelaide
Adelaide& &Hills
Hills
.......................
402
Perth
..................
501
PerthCentral
Central& &East
EastMetro
Metro
..................
501
Greater
.............
302
GreaterMetro
MetroSouth
SouthBrisbane
Brisbane
.............
302
Metro
..........................
301
MetroNorth
NorthBrisbane
Brisbane
..........................
301
Perth
...............................
502
PerthNorth
NorthMetro
Metro
...............................
502
Fremantle
503
Fremantle...........................................
...........................................
503
Eastern
..............................
207
EasternMelbourne
Melbourne
..............................
207
South
103
SouthEastern
EasternSydney
Sydney........................
........................
103

Metro
Metro33
West
...........................
305
WestMoreton-Oxley
Moreton-Oxley
...........................
305
Northern
...............................
401
NorthernAdelaide
Adelaide
...............................
401
Macedon
.............
204
MacedonRanges
Ranges& &NW
NWMelb
Melb
.............
204
South
104
SouthWestern
WesternSydney
Sydney.......................
.......................
104
Northern
............................
205
NorthernMelbourne
Melbourne
............................
205
South
208
SouthEastern
EasternMelbourne....................
Melbourne....................
208
Western
105
WesternSydney..................................
Sydney..................................
105

Regional
Regional22

601
601

i. i.Perth
Perthand
and
surrounding
surroundingareas
areas

Metro
Metro22

Perth
............................
505
PerthSouth
SouthCoastal
Coastal
............................
505
Hunter
................................................
111
Hunter
................................................
111
Barwon
...............................................
210
Barwon
...............................................
210
Frankston-Mornington
.........
209
Frankston-MorningtonPeninsula
Peninsula
.........
209
Central
.............................
109
CentralCoast
CoastNSW
NSW
.............................
109
Nepean-Blue
......................
106
Nepean-BlueMountains
Mountains
......................
106
Illawarra-Shoalhaven
...........................
110
Illawarra-Shoalhaven
...........................
110
Sunshine
304
SunshineCoast
Coast..................................
..................................
304

111
111

116
116

Australian
...................
801
AustralianCapital
CapitalTerritory
Territory
...................
801
Northern
.................................
107
NorthernSydney
Sydney
.................................
107
Inner
..............................
102
InnerWest
WestSydney
Sydney
..............................
102
Inner
..........................
206
InnerEast
EastMelbourne
Melbourne
..........................
206
Bayside
202
Bayside..............................................
..............................................
202
Inner
...........................
201
InnerNW
NWMelbourne
Melbourne
...........................
201
Sydney
..........
108
SydneyNorth
NorthShore
Shore& &Beaches
Beaches
..........
108
Eastern
101
EasternSydney...................................
Sydney...................................
101

Regional
Regional11

118
118

506
506

Not
Notavailable
availablefor
for
publication
publication

Map
Map
ref.
ref.

Metro
Metro11

To
Tocompare
compareMedicare
MedicareLocals
Localsmore
morefairly,
fairly,each
each
Medicare
MedicareLocal
Localcatchment
catchmenthas
hasbeen
beengrouped
groupedinto
into
one
oneofofseven
sevenpeer
peergroups,
groups,based
basedon
onremoteness
remoteness
and
andsocioeconomic
socioeconomicstatus.
status.This
Thisallows:
allows:

InIn201112,
201112,the
thepercentage
percentageofofadults
adultsclassified
classifiedas
asoverweight
overweightororobese
obesevaried
variedacross
acrossMedicare
MedicareLocal
Local
catchments,
catchments,ranging
rangingfrom
from49%
49%toto79%.
79%.

Highest
Highest
group
group

Peer
Peergroups
groups

Statistically
Statisticallysignificant
significantvariation
variation(at(atthe
the95%
95%confidence
confidencelevel)
level)from
from
the
thepeer
peergroup
groupresult.
result.

This
Thisarea
areahas
has>5%
>5%ofofitsitspopulation
populationininvery
veryremote
remoteareas.
areas.
95%
95%confidence
confidenceinterval
interval not
notshown
shownif if<5%.
<5%.
NP
Not
NP
Notavailable
availableforforpublication.
publication.
More
Moreinformation
informationcan
canbebefound
foundatatwww.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
and
andininthis
thisreports
reportsTechnical
TechnicalNote.
Note.
##

Western
.....................................
115
WesternNSW
NSW
.....................................
115
Gippsland
...........................................
217
Gippsland
...........................................
217
Country
...............................
404
CountrySouth
SouthSA
SA
...............................
404
Goulburn
...................................
215
GoulburnValley
Valley
...................................
215
South
506
SouthWest
WestWA
WA..................................
..................................
506
Darling
.......................
306
DarlingDowns-SW
Downs-SWQld
Qld
.......................
306
Loddon-Mallee-Murray
........................
214
Loddon-Mallee-Murray
........................
214
Southern
....................................
117
SouthernNSW
NSW
....................................
117
Murrumbidgee
....................................
116
Murrumbidgee
....................................
116
Great
..............................
212
GreatSouth
SouthCoast
Coast
..............................
212
New
......................................
114
NewEngland
England
......................................
114
Tasmania
............................................
601
Tasmania
............................................
601
Grampians
..........................................
211
Grampians
..........................................
211
Wide
............................................
307
WideBay
Bay
............................................
307
North
...............................
113
NorthCoast
CoastNSW
NSW
...............................
113
Hume
216
Hume.................................................
.................................................
216

Rural
Rural11
Townsville-Mackay
..............................
310
Townsville-Mackay
..............................
310
Central
.........................................
308
CentralQld
Qld
.........................................
308
..............................
..............................
405
Country
405
CountryNorth
NorthSA
SA
...................................
...................................
118
Far
118
FarWest
WestNSW
NSW
Lower
213
LowerMurray
Murray.....................................
.....................................
213

Rural
Rural2
2
............................
............................
507
Goldfields-Midwest
507
Goldfields-Midwest
....................................
....................................
311
Far
311
FarNorth
NorthQld
Qld
..............................
..............................
701
Northern
701
NorthernTerritory
Territory
..............................
..............................
309
Central
309
Central& &NW
NWQld
Qld
..............................
..............................
508
Kimberley-Pilbara
508
Kimberley-Pilbara

National
Nationaloverviews
overviews

Obese
Obese Combined
Combinedoverweight
overweightororobese
obeserate
rate
rate
rate

40%
40%50%
50%60%
60%70%
70%80%
80%90%
90%

19%
19% 54%
54%
25%
25%
20%
20%
21%
21%
16%
16%
21%
21%
16%
16%
14%
14%
15%
15%

# #
62%
62%
57%
57%
57%
57%
56%
56%
51%
51%
50%
50%
50%
50%
49%
49%

40%
40%50%
50%60%
60%70%
70%80%
80%90%
90%

27%
27% 62%
62%
30%
30%
26%
26%
27%
27%
26%
26%
25%
25%
23%
23%
30%
30%
27%
27%
24%
24%
25%
25%
25%
25%
28%
28%

67%
67%
# #
66%
66%
64%
64%
64%
64%
62%
62%
63%
63%
62%
62%
61%
61%
61%
61%
61%
61%
57%
57%
57%
57%
40%
40%50%
50%60%
60%70%
70%80%
80%90%
90%

30%
30% 63%
63%
38%
38%
36%
36%
32%
32%
29%
29%
28%
28%
24%
24%
27%
27%

71%
71%
# #
69%
69%
66%
66%
62%
62%
60%
60%
60%
60%
60%
60%
40%
40%50%
50%60%
60%70%
70%80%
80%90%
90%

31%
31% 67%
67%
38%
38%
33%
33%
32%
32%
27%
27%
35%
35%
29%
29%
28%
28%
22%
22%

72%
72%
70%
70%
68%
68%
67%
67%
66%
66%
64%
64%
64%
64%
61%
61%
40%
40%50%
50%60%
60%70%
70%80%
80%90%
90%

31%
31% 68%
68%
33%
33%
35%
35%
40%
40%
31%
31%
35%
35%
36%
36%
41%
41%
23%
23%
32%
32%
NP
NP
28%
28%
28%
28%
34%
34%
29%
29%
29%
29%
30%
30%

# #
79%
79%
# #
75%
75%
75%
75%
72%
72%
# #
72%
72%
70%
70%
70%
70%
69%
69%
66%
66%
66%
66%
65%
65%
# #
65%
65%
65%
65%
64%
64%
# #
58%
58%
NP
NP

40%
40%50%
50%60%
60%70%
70%80%
80%90%
90%

36%
36% 72%
72%
38%
38%
39%
39%
31%
31%
NP
NP
NP
NP

75%
75%
69%
69%
69%
69%
NP
NP
NP
NP
40%
40%50%
50%60%
60%70%
70%80%
80%90%
90%

31%
31% 65%
65%
35%
35%
32%
32%
27%
27%
NP
NP
NP
NP

74%
74%
63%
63%
62%
62%
NP
NP
NP
NP

Healthy Communities: Overweight and obesity rates across Australia, 201112

Table 1: Estimated overweight and obese rates across Medicare Locals, 201112, grouped by state and territory
Estimated number
of overweight or
obese adults*

Obese

Overweight

New South Wales

Western NSW
Hunter
Loddon-Mallee-Murray
Southern NSW
Central Coast NSW
Murrumbidgee
New England
Illawarra-Shoalhaven
Nepean-Blue Mountains
South Western Sydney
Western Sydney
North Coast NSW
Inner West Sydney
Northern Sydney
South Eastern Sydney
Sydney North Shore & Beaches
Eastern Sydney
Hume
Far West NSW
Lower Murray

26%
33%
33%
41%
23%
35%
32%
28%
28%
29%
29%
27%
29%
21%
20%
28%
14%
15%
30%
NP
NP

35%
46%
37%
28%
46%
31%
34%
37%
35%
35%
33%
33%
29%
35%
37%
28%
36%
33%
NP
NP
NP

Victoria
Gippsland
Goulburn Valley
Loddon-Mallee-Murray
Barwon
Frankston-Mornington Peninsula
South Western Melbourne
Great South Coast
Macedon Ranges & NW Melb
Grampians
Northern Melbourne
South Eastern Melbourne
Eastern Melbourne
Inner East Melbourne
Bayside
Inner NW Melbourne
Hume
Lower Murray

26%
35%
31%
41%
32%
27%
30%
NP
32%
34%
28%
24%
25%
16%
21%
16%
30%
NP

35%
40%
41%
28%
36%
40%
37%
47%
35%
31%
33%
36%
32%
39%
30%
34%
NP
NP

Queensland
Townsville-Mackay
West Moreton-Oxley
Darling Downs-SW Qld
Central Qld
Gold Coast
Wide Bay
Far North Qld
Greater Metro South Brisbane
Metro North Brisbane
Sunshine Coast
Central & NW Qld

30%
38%
38%
36%
39%
26%
29%
32%
30%
27%
22%
NP

35%
37%
34%
34%
30%
38%
35%
31%
32%
35%
39%
NP

0%

South Australia
Country South SA
Country North SA
Northern Adelaide
Sthn Adelaide-Fleurieu-Kangaroo Is.
Central Adelaide & Hills

30%
40%
31%
36%
26%
25%

37%
35%
37%
33%
39%
37%

0%

Western Australia
Goldfields-Midwest
Perth South Coastal
South West WA
Bentley-Armadale
Perth Central & East Metro
Fremantle
Perth North Metro
Kimberley-Pilbara

28%
35%
38%
35%
27%
23%
25%
24%
NP

37%
39%
34%
37%
37%
40%
36%
37%
NP

0%

Tasmania
Tasmania

28%
28%

37%
37%

0%

Northern Territory
Northern Territory

27%
27%

35%
35%

0%

Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory

25%
25%

37%
37%

0%

NATIONAL TOTAL

28%

35%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

150,000
373,000
116,000
104,000
164,000
92,000
89,000
190,000
167,000
404,000
383,000
222,000
271,000
177,000
207,000
180,000
158,000
NP
NP
NP
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

151,000
81,000
116,000
145,000
145,000
127,000
51,000
241,000
103,000
293,000
215,000
180,000
276,000
244,000
187,000
NP
NP
10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

226,000
188,000
153,000
107,000
262,000
101,000
124,000
432,000
422,000
171,000
NP
10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

77,000
104,000
211,000
207,000
258,000
10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

70,000
125,000
158,000
202,000
224,000
111,000
239,000
NP
10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

256,000
10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

105,000
10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

179,000
10,832,000

Interpret with caution.

95% confidence interval.
 stimates were obtained by multiplying the estimated resident adult population by the estimated overweight and obese percentage, and rounding to the
E
nearest 1000.
Due to separate rounding of data values, the total of obese and overweight does not match the published total.
Source: Estimated Resident Population 30 June 2011 and Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Health Survey 201113.
*

MyHealthyCommunities

About the data

The data were sourced from the Australian Bureau of
Statistics Australian Health Survey 201113. Consenting
participants were measured using digital weighing scales
to measure weight and a stadiometer to measure height.
Body Mass Index (BMI) scores were calculated as weight
(kg) divided by height squared (m)2. Participants with a BMI
greater than or equal to 25 and less than 30 were classified
as overweight. Those with a BMI greater than or equal to
30 were classified as obese. For more information refer to
the Technical Note at www.myhealthycommunities.gov.
au/publications

Visit www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
to see how your local area is performing. This
interactive website lets you see the results for
over 40 health measures including:

What is the National Health

Performance Authority?

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Waiting times for GPs
After-hours GP attendances.
Compare your local area with other similar
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Locals in diverse parts of the country are
performing when it comes to delivering
community health services. This powerful
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informed decisions, it empowers clinicians
and service providers to drive improvements
in health.

We are an independent government agency that provides

information on health care organisations at a local level
across Australia. We produce regular reports and publish
data online at www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au and
www.myhospitals.gov.au
The Performance Authoritys activities are guided by a
document called the Performance and Accountability
Framework agreed by the Council of Australian
Governments. The framework contains 48 indicators that
form the basis for the Performance Authoritys reports.
For more information, go to www.nhpa.gov.au

What is a Medicare Local?

Medicare Locals plan, fund and deliver
health services to meet the needs of
communities across Australia. They
help to ensure patients can access the
co-ordinated care they need, particularly
when a variety of health workers are
involved in providing treatments.
For more information, go to
www.medicarelocals.gov.au

www.nhpa.gov.au
www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
www.myhospitals.gov.au
Commonwealth of Australia 2013
ISSN: 2202-9184
Suggested citation: National Health Performance Authority 2013, Healthy
Communities: Overweight and obesity rates across Australia, 201112 (In Focus)
Please note that there is the potential for minor revisions of this document.