Overweight and obesity among Australian children and adolescents

Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is a major public health issue in Australia—it is associated with poorer health and wellbeing, worse performance at school, increased health-care costs, and an increased risk of overweight and obesity in adulthood. Reducing and preventing overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are important priorities for Australian policymakers to improve the health of the population.

This report builds on previous AIHW reporting on overweight and obesity by focusing on children and adolescents. It brings together the latest national data to provide insights into patterns of overweight and obesity across population groups and over time. It discusses factors that contribute to overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, summarises the short- and long-term effects of overweight and obesity, and outlines actions that individuals, communities and governments can take to reduce overweight and obesity in this group.