State of the Nation NZ 3: New Zealanders are not getting any slimmer – with 63% now overweight or obese

In September 2011, only 35% of New Zealanders had a Body Mass Index (BMI) indicating an acceptable weight, down from 38% in 2009.

The shift towards a larger body mass is supported by figures showing 28% of the population were obese in September 2011, up from 25% in December 2001. However over the same period, those considered overweight has declined slightly from 36% to 35%.

Body Mass Index (BMI) of New Zealanders


Source: Roy Morgan Single Source, 12 month moving average Jan 2001-Sept 2011. Oct 2010 – Sept 2011, n =10,815.


When looking at New Zealanders’ attitudes towards weight-loss over the last 10 years, similar shifts are reflected with 60% (up from 58%) of the population reporting that they would like to be able to lose weight and 38% saying that they are constantly watching their weight (up from 36%).

Despite this, those who considered a low fat diet a way of life declined from 33% to 30% in the same period, and the number of New Zealanders who said they always thought about the number of calories they were eating was down slightly from 21% to 19%.

Attitudes towards Weight-Loss


Source: Roy Morgan Single Source, 12 month moving average Jan 2001-Sept 2011. Oct 2010 – Sept 2011, n =10,815.

Pip Elliott, Client Services Director, Roy Morgan Research, says:

“It is interesting to note that in the same period, the percentage of New Zealanders who are overweight is similar to Australia, where 62% of Australians are also either overweight or obese, with 64% saying they would like to be able to lose weight.

“Our rising weight is likely an indication of our changing lifestyles. These findings raise many questions such as, ‘is our increasing weight simply a reflection of our aging population?’ ‘Can it be explained by a more sedentary lifestyle or more fast food?’ ‘Is it a male problem or a female problem?’ Or, ‘is it different by geographical location?’

“Roy Morgan data can provide further insights for those wanting to explore this segment at a deeper level, and can provide an understanding of the relationship between BMI and age, gender, socioeconomic status, eating preferences, activities and their media consumption.”

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