QIM 3: Proportion of regular clients with a current height and weight classification recorded in their GP record and a derived BMI result

On this page:
Overview
Proportion of regular clients with a weight classification recorded (QIM3a)
Proportion of regular clients with a weight classification result (QIM3b)

Overview

In 2017–18, two-thirds (67.0%) of Australian adults aged 18 years and over were overweight or obese (12.5 million people) (ABS 2018). Being overweight, obese or underweight is associated with higher rates of morbidity, and overweight and obesity is a major public health issue in Australia. Overweight and obesity are risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis, some cancers and gallbladder disease. Being overweight or obese is also associated with certain psychosocial problems, functional limitations and disabilities. On the other hand, being underweight may cause malnourishment and lead to compromised immune function, respiratory disease, digestive diseases, cancer and osteoporosis. 

Other sources of relevant data 

Data on measured height, weight and BMI are captured in the National Health Survey (NHS) conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

This indicator contains 2 parts, assessing the proportion of regular clients 15 years of age and older who:

  • QIM 3a: had a height and weight measurement recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months, from which a Body Mass Index (BMI) was derived
  • QIM 3b: had their BMI classified as either underweight, healthy, overweight or obese derived from the current height and weight recorded in their GP record.

The QIM proportions summarised by the different extraction tools in use are also shown in the ‘Regional proportions’ bar charts for this measure. This illustrates the differences in how software providers have interpreted the technical specifications and coding of QIMs.

Proportion of regular clients with a weight classification recorded (QIM3a)

QIM 3a: Regional proportions

As of July 2023, nationally, 23.0% of regular clients aged 15 years and over had their height and weight measurements recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months. This varied from 17.5 to 47.3% across PHNs, and between 19.5% and 26.6% across extraction tools.

Figure 23: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight measurement recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by PHN, or extraction tool (ET), July 2023

This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight measurement recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by PHN and extraction tool, for July 2023.

For clients aged 15–24 years, the BMI is included only if both the height and weight measurement have been recorded in their GP record in the previous 12 months. For those aged 25 years and over, the BMI is included in these data if the height measurement has been recorded since the client turned 25 years of age, and if the weight measurement has also been recorded in the GP record within the previous 12 months.

QIM 3a: National proportions over time

Nationally, between January 2023 and July 2023, the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over with a height and weight recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months remained constant at 21.9% and 23.0%, respectively.

Figure 24: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months, January 2023 to July 2023

This line chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months, from January 2023 to July 2023

QIM 3a: National proportions by age and sex

As of July 2023, nationally, the proportion of regular clients who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record in the previous 12 months increased with age and was:

  • highest in the 65 years and over age group for both females (33.4%) and males (33.1%)
  • lowest in the 15–24 years age group for both females (14.9%) and males (10.1%), noting the different requirement for this age group that both height and weight be recorded in the previous 12 months.

Figure 25: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by age and sex, July 2023

This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by age and sex for July 2023.

Proportion of regular clients with a weight classification result (QIM3b)

QIM 3b: Regional proportions

Underweight BMI

As of July 2023, nationally, 2.1% of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record in the previous 12 months were classified as having a BMI within the underweight range. This varied from 1.5% to 2.8% across PHNs, and between 2.1% and 2.5% across extraction tools.

Figure 26: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “underweight” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by PHN, or extraction tool (ET), July 2023

This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “underweight” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by PHN and extraction tool, for July 2023.

Healthy BMI

As of July 2023, nationally, 26.0% of those regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record in the previous 12 months were classified as having a BMI within the healthy range. This varied from 19.4% to 37.0% across PHNs, and between 25.3% and 30.8% across extraction tools.

Figure 27: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “healthy” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by PHN, or extraction tool (ET), July 2023

This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “healthy” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by PHN and extraction tool, for July 2023.

Overweight BMI

As of July 2023, nationally, 32.4% of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record in the previous 12 months were classified as having a BMI within the overweight range. This varied from 29.3% to 34.9% across PHNs, and between 32.2% and 33.9% across extraction tools.

Figure 28: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “overweight” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by PHN, or extraction tool (ET), July 2023

This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “overweight” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by PHN and extraction tool, for July 2023.

Obese BMI

As of July 2023, nationally, 39.5% of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record in the previous 12 months were classified as having a BMI within the obese range. This varied from 25.7% to 49.6% across PHNs, and between 32.8% and 40.4% across extraction tools.

Figure 29: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “obese” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by PHN, or extraction tool (ET), July 2023

This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “obese” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by PHN and extraction tool, for July 2023.

QIM 3b: National proportions over time

Nationally, between January 2023 and July 2023, of those who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months:

  • a BMI status of “underweight” remained constant at 2.1% 
  • a BMI status of “healthy” remained constant at 25.5 % and 26.0%, respectively
  • a BMI status of “overweight” remained constant at 32.3% and 32.4%, respectively
  • a BMI status of “obese” remained constant at 40.1% and 39.5%, respectively.

Figure 30: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by BMI classification, January 2023 to July 2023 

This line chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by BMI classification, from January 2023 to July 2023

QIM 3b: National proportions by age and sex

Underweight BMI

As of July 2023, nationally, the proportion of regular clients with their height and weight recorded in their GP record in the previous 12 months who were classified as having a BMI in the underweight range was:

  • highest in the 15–24 years age group for both females (9.2%) and males (8.0%)
  • lowest in the 45–54 years age group for females (1.3%)
  • lowest in the 35–44 years and 45–54 years age groups for males (0.5%).

Figure 31: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “underweight” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by age and sex, July 2023

This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “underweight” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by age and sex for July 2023

Healthy BMI

As of July 2023, nationally, the proportion of regular clients with their height and weight recorded in their GP record in the previous 12 months who were classified as having a BMI in the healthy range was:

  • highest in the 15–24 years age group for both females and males (47.5%)
  • lowest in the 55-64 years age group for females (23.4%) 
  • lowest in the 45-54 year age group for males (15.8%).

Figure 32: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “healthy” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by age and sex, July 2023

This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “healthy” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by age and sex for July 2023

Overweight BMI

As of July 2023, nationally, the proportion of regular clients with their height and weight recorded in their GP record in the previous 12 months who were classified as having a BMI in the overweight range was:

  • highest in the 65 years and over age group for both females (32.3%) and males (41.2%)
  • lowest in the 15–24 years age group for both females (19.9%) and males (22.1%).

Figure 33: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “overweight” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by age and sex, July 2023

This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “overweight” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by age and sex for July 2023

Obese BMI

As of July 2023, nationally, the proportion of regular clients with their height and weight recorded in their GP record in the previous 12 months who were classified as having a BMI in the obese range was:

  • highest in the 45–54 years age group for both females (46.5%) and males (47.2%)
  • lowest in the 15–24 years age group for both females (23.5%) and males (22.3%).

Figure 34: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “obese” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by age and sex, July 2023

This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over who had their height and weight recorded and their BMI classified as “obese” in their GP record within the previous 12 months, by age and sex for July 2023

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