Body Mass Index (BMI) (PI12)

This indicator is the proportion of First Nations regular clients aged 18 and over who had their body mass index (BMI) classified within specified categories or not calculated within the previous 24 months.

It is reported here in 2 parts as the proportion of First Naitons regular clients aged 18 and over who, within the previous 24 months, had:

  • their BMI calculated
  • their BMI calculated with a result of either:
    • underweight
    • normal
    • overweight
    • obese.

It is collected for males and females in age groups:

  • 18–24
  • 25–34
  • 35–44
  • 45–54
  • 55–64
  • 65 and over.

There have been changes to the specification of this indicator over time. See Interpreting nKPI data for more information.

Why weight is important

Being either underweight (for example, because of under-nutrition) or overweight or obese (where an abnormal or excessive amount of fat accumulates in the body) increases a person’s risk of poor physical health. Both are risk factors for future illness.

First Nations people aged 15 and over are less likely to be of normal weight than non-Indigenous Australians (AIHW 2022). The proportion of First Nations people who are of normal weight has decreased over time.

At June 2022, 62% (or around 152,000) of First Nations regular clients aged 18 and over had their BMI calculated, 38% (93,700) had not.

Having a BMI calculated was highest in:

  • Western Australia and Queensland (both 73%)
  • Major cities and Outer regional areas (both 67%)
  • Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) (66%).

Body Mass Index by reporting period

Body Mass Index, by reporting period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of Indigenous regular clients aged 18 and over who had their BMI calculated and their BMI calculated with a result of either (underweight, normal, overweight, obese).

There are three different tabs. The first two show the percentage by BMI result only, for two different time periods.

  • December 2021 to June 2022, which includes underweight, normal, overweight, obese BMIs.
  • June 2017 to June 2021, which include overweight and obese.

The third tab shows the percentage by two BMI calculation categories, which are 'Calculated' and ‘Not calculated’, for the reporting periods of December 2021 and June 2022.

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Notes

  1. In December 2021, specifications changed for this indicator and data from that point on cannot be compared with previous periods for all categories, ages or the total. See Interpreting nKPI data for more information.
  2. Proportions in the ‘BMI only’ figures are calculated using the denominator of First Nations regular clients with a BMI recorded.
  3. See Technical notes for more information, including on interpreting changes over time.

 

Of those with their BMI recorded:

  • 24% (or around 37,100) were of normal weight
  • 26% (or around 39,200) were overweight
  • 45% (or around 68,100) were obese
  • 5% (or around 7,400) were underweight.

Of those with their BMI calculated, being of normal weight was highest in:

  • the Northern Territory (30%)
  • Very remote areas (27%)
  • organisations other than Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (non-ACCHOs) (26%).

Body Mass Index by reporting period and state/territory or remoteness or organisation type

Body Mass Index, by either state/territory, remoteness or organisation type, reporting period

Two Tableau visualisations are presented here. The first shows the percentage of Indigenous regular clients aged 18 and over who had their BMI calculated and their BMI calculated with a result of either (underweight, normal, overweight, obese) for either:

  • state/territory (NSW/ACT, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, NT, Australia)
  • remoteness area (Major cities, Inner regional, Outer regional, Remote, Very remote, Australia)
  • organisation type (ACCHO, non-ACCHO, Total).

Reporting periods of either December 2020, or June 2021 can be selected.

The second visualisation shows the selected information from the first visualisation by sex (male, female) and age group (25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65+).

There is a second tab shows the percentage by BMI calculation categories of 'Calculated' and 'Not calculated'.

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Notes

  1. In December2021, specifications changed for this indicator and data from that point on cannot be compared with previous periods for all categories, ages or the total. See Interpreting nKPI data for more information.
  2. Proportions are calculated using the denominator of First Nations regular clients with BMI recorded.
  3. See Technical notes for more information, including on interpreting changes over time.

Reference

AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2022) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework: overweight and obesity, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 3 January 2023.

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