 HEALTH
Health Risk Factors
Body Mass Index
The proportion of people that are overweight or obese within a population can be determined by calculating each individual's Body Mass Index (BMI) score (from reported information on height and weight) and then grouping people into BMI categories.
Just under one-third (31%) of Indigenous people aged 15 years and over were recorded as being in the normal or healthy weight range in 2004–05. A further 23% were classified as being overweight and 24% were classified as obese.
After adjusting for age differences and non-response the data reveals that Indigenous Australians were 1.2 times more likely to be overweight/obese than non-Indigenous Australians. The disparity between overweight/obese Indigenous and non-Indigenous people was more pronounced in females.
Overweight/Obese by Indigenous status and sex, 2004–05
| Age group (years) | Indigenous
% | Non-Indigenous
% |
MALES |
| 15–24 | 31 | 27 |
| 25–34 | 56 | 58 |
| 35–44 | 61 | 66 |
| 45–54 | 64 | 66 |
| 55 and over | 63 | 61 |
FEMALES |
| 15–24 | 26 | 21 |
| 25–34 | 46 | 35 |
| 35–44 | 50 | 38 |
| 45–54 | 56 | 45 |
| 55 and over | 56 | 47 |
Source: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Australia, 2004–05 (cat. no. 4715.0).
Overweight/Obese, Males 2004–05
Source: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Australia, 2004–05 (cat. no. 4715.0).
Overweight/Obese, Females 2004–05
Source: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Australia, 2004–05 (cat. no. 4715.0).
Further Information: See National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, Australia, 2004–05 (cat. no. 4715.0)
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This page last updated 1 April 2010 | 
