Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated as weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of height (in metres).

For adults, obesity is defined as a BMI of greater than or equal to 30.

For children, obesity is defined as a BMI (appropriate for age and sex) that is likely to be 30 or more at age 18 years, based on centile curves. See ABS National Health Survey: Users' Guide Electronic Publication, 2007–08 (ABS Catalogue no. 4363.0.55.001) for BMI values.

Rates are directly age-standardised to the 2001 Australian population.

Excludes pregnant women where identified and people with an unknown BMI.

Analysis by remoteness and SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) is based on usual residence of person.

Presented as a percentage.

95% confidence intervals and relative standard errors calculated for rates.

100 × (Numerator ÷ Denominator)

Calculated separately for adults and children.

Adults: Number of persons aged 18 years or over who are obese

Children: Number of persons aged 5–17 years who are obese

Adults: Population aged 18 years or over

Children: Population aged 5–17 years

State and territory, by:

• sex by age
• Indigenous status
• remoteness (Australian Standard Geographical Classification Remoteness Structure)
• SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) quintiles

Nationally, by SEIFA IRSD deciles

Some disaggregation may result in numbers too small for publication.

Most recent data available for 2012 CRC report: 2007–08 (total population, with the exception of estimates for children residing in the Northern Territory: NHS); 2004–05 (Indigenous status adults only: NATSIHS and NHS).

NO NEW DATA FOR 2012 REPORTING

2007–08 national data based on measured values; data for Indigenous/non-Indigenous disaggregation is based on self-report. BMI derived from measured height and weight is preferable to that derived from self-reported height and weight.

For further detailed analysis by Indigenous status, see the National Indigenous Reform Agreement (NIRA) report.

National Healthcare Agreement: PB 03—By 2017, increase by five percentage points the proportion of Australian adults and children at a health body weight, over the 2009 baseline (Baseline specification), 2012

NPA on Preventive Health

15(a): Increase in proportion of children at unhealthy weight held at less than five per cent from baseline for each state by 2013; proportion of children at healthy weight returned to baseline levels by 2015.

15(d): Increase in proportion of adults at unhealthy weight held at less than five per cent from baseline for each state by 2013; proportion of adults at healthy weight returned to baseline levels by 2015.

Specification: Long-term