Levels of obesity

IBISWorld forecasts the level of obesity in New Zealanders to rise by 0.2 percentage points in 2024-25, to 66.5% of the population. The level of sport and active recreation participation in New Zealand reflects the engagement of individuals in activities designed to counter obesity. This indicator therefore has a strong negative correlation. The level of sport and active recreation participation is projected to rise in the current year, placing downward pressure on obesity levels. Additionally, fruit and vegetable consumption is expected to rise in the current year, supporting a decrease in the level of obesity.

Although adult obesity has risen strongly over the long term, growth in the level of obesity has largely stabilised over the past decade. Ongoing efforts to educate and promote healthy lifestyles have placed downward pressure on obesity rates. These efforts have included increasing access to sports programs and implementing regulations, such as health star ratings, which allow consumers to make more informed decisions when purchasing food. Increasing image consciousness, particularly among young adults, has also constrained obesity levels over the past five years.

A sustained decline in the level of obesity has rarely been reported over the past four decades. However, with the level of obesity potentially reaching a point of saturation, ongoing efforts to reverse the long-term increase have been partially successful over the period. Obesity levels have grown over the long term as the prevalence and accessibility of unhealthy foods grows. Significant incentives exist to reduce the level of obesity. Obesity-related health problems place the largest financial burden on New Zealand's healthcare sector, having overtaken smoking-related illnesses during the past decade. IBISWorld forecasts the level of obesity in New Zealand to rise at an average annual rate of 0.04 percentage points over the five years through 2024-25.