Obesity key facts and statistics
This page provides introductory statistics about obesity in New Zealand as it affects adults and children.
Adult obesity statistics
The 2008/09 Adult Nutrition Survey found that:
• One in four adults (aged 15 years and over) were obese (27.8%)
• 44.7% of Maori adults were obese
• 57.9% of Pacific adults were obese
• There has been an increase in obesity in males from 17.0% in 1997 to 27.7% in 2008/09
• There has been an increase in obesity in females from 20.6% in 1997 to 27.8% in 2008/09
For more adult obesity statistics, refer to A Focus on Nutrition: Key Findings of the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey.
Child obesity statistics
The 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey found that:
• One in twelve children (aged 2 to 14 years) were obese (8.3%).
• One in five children were overweight (20.9%).
• Adjusted for age, Pacific boys and girls were at least 2.5 times more likely to be obese than boys and girls in the total population
• Adjusted for age, Māori boys and girls were 1.5 times more likely to be obese than boys and girls in the total population
• There has been no change in the average (mean) BMI or the prevalence of obesity for children aged 5-14 years since 2002.
For more adult obesity statistics, refer to A Portrait of Health: Key Results from the 2006/2007 New Zealand Health Survey.
Page last updated: 06 December 2011
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