Being overweight or obese are risk factors for many diseases, including coronary heart disease.
The body mass index is used to ascertain whether individuals are overweight or obese, and involves dividing weight (kg) by the square of height (m2).
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommends the following groupings:
BODY MASS INDEX, Groupings
|
 | Body mass index |
|
| Underweight | Less than 18.5 |
| Normal weight | 18.5 to less than 25.0 |
| Overweight | 25.0 to 30.0 |
| Obese | Greater than 30.0 |
Source: National Health Survey: Summary of Results; State Tables, 2004-05 (Cat. No. 4362.0).
|
The 2004-05 National Health Survey recorded body mass index scores for Tasmanians aged 18 years and over. The results indicate that in 2004-05:
- 37.8% of males and 25.9% of females were overweight.
- 17.0% of males and 17.2% of females were obese.
- 38.1% were of persons were normal weight.
Body Mass Index(a), Tasmania, 2004-05 |
|
 | Males | Females | Persons |
| Status | % | % | % |
|
| Underweight | 0.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 |
| Normal weight | 35.8 | 39.7 | 37.8 |
| Overweight | 37.8 | 25.9 | 31.8 |
| Obese | 17.0 | 17.2 | 17.0 |
| Total(b) | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
|
(a) Persons aged 18 years and above.
(b) Totals include people whose Body Mass Index was not known, therefore the individual components do not add sum to the totals.
Source: National Health Survey: Summary of Results; State Tables, 2004-05 (Cat. No. 4362.0).
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