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Prevalence and period trends of overweight and obesity in Australian young adults

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 70, pages 1083–1085 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

This analysis examines period trends in body weight of Australian 18–24 year olds. Secondary analysis of National Health Surveys was performed, including examination of socio-demographic determinants of obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased from 24.0 and 5.1% in males and 13.2 and 5.8% in females, respectively, in 1995 to 29.3 and 13.8% in males and 20.6 and 20.6% in females in 2012. Mean body mass index (BMI) increased over time from 23.7 (s.d. 3.5) for males and 22.4 (s.d. 4.0) for females in 1995 to 25.2 (s.d. 4.8) and 25.5 (s.d. 5.9) in 2011/2. Lower educational attainment increased the odds of having BMI⩾25.00 kg/m2 for both sexes (P=0.03 males and P<0.001 females). Overweight and obesity were higher in rural females (P<0.05) and those socio-economically disadvantaged (P<0.0001). The obesity epidemic has worsened for Australian young adults and in particular young females.

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Acknowledgements

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. AG is currently supported by an Australian Postgraduate award for doctoral studies. MA-F's roles included study design and revision of the manuscript. AG's roles included study design, data analysis and drafting the manuscript.

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  1. Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    A Grech & M Allman-Farinelli

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  1. A Grech
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  2. M Allman-Farinelli
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Correspondence to A Grech.

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Grech, A., Allman-Farinelli, M. Prevalence and period trends of overweight and obesity in Australian young adults. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 1083–1085 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.41

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