The ACT has among the highest rates of overweight and obese adults of any metropolitan area, an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report has found.
The report released today showed of all 15 metropolitan primary health networks, only the Nepean Blue Mountains (NSW), Eastern Melbourne (Victoria) and Western Sydney (NSW) had higher rates of overweight or obese adults.
The ACT's rate of 63.5 per cent was well above the metropolitan average of 60.7, while Northern Sydney had the lowest proportion of overweight and obese adults at 53.4 per cent.
Country South Australia had the highest rates of obese and overweight adults at 73.3 per cent while adults living in regional areas were more likely to be overweight or obese compared to city residents with a prevalence of 68.6 per cent.
Four PHN areas had proportions of overweight and obese adults of 70per cent or more???Country South Australia, Western NSW, Darling Downs and West Moreton (Queensland), and Western Victoria.
The report used data from PHN areas collected by the ABS in 2014 and 2015.
The report showed in 2014-15, nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of Australian adults were overweight or obese.
This has steadily increased over the last 20 years - up from 57 per cent in 1995 - largely driven by a rise in obesity.
Men were far more likely than women to be overweight or obese, with 71 per cent of men overweight or obese compared with 56 per cent of women.
A greater proportion of men (42 per cent) than women (29 per cen) were overweight but not obese, while a similar proportion of men (28 per cent) and women (27 per cent) were obese.
The report showed those who lived away from major cities or in lower socioeconomic groups were more likely to be overweight or obese.
It also showed compared with non-Indigenous Australians, Indigenous adults are more likely to be overweight or obese.
