Overweight and obese adults (self-reported), 2014

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Obesity has been linked with many chronic diseases, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and certain types of cancer.

To assess the health risks of obesity, the World Health Organization and Health Canada use guidelines based on Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure that examines weight in relation to height. BMI is defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (Table 1). BMI is calculated for the population aged 18 and older, excluding pregnant women, and persons less than 3 feet (0.914 metres) tall or greater than 6 feet 11 inches (2.108 metres).

Table 1

Weight ranges for underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese for selected heights

Table summary

This table displays the results of Table 1 Weight ranges for underweight. The information is grouped by Height (appearing as row headers), Underweight†, Normal weight, Overweight† and Obese†† (appearing as column headers). Height Underweight Normal weight Overweight Obese 5’4” less than 107.5 lb 107.6 to 145.2 lb 145.3 to 174.3 lb 174.4 lbs or more 5’8” less than 121.3 lb 121.4 to 164.0 lb 164.1 to 196.8 lb 196.9 lbs or more 6’0” less than 136.0 lb 136.1 to 183.8 lb 183.9 to 220.6 lb 220.7 lbs or more 1.63 m less than 48.8 kg 48.9 to 66.0 kg 66.1 to 79.2 kg 79.3 kg or more 1.73 m less than 55.1 kg 55.2 to 74.5 kg 74.6 to 89.4 kg 89.5 kg or more 1.83 m less than 61.8 kg 61.9 to 83.5 kg 83.6 to 100.2 kg 100.3 kg or more

In 2014, 20.2% of Canadians aged 18 and older, roughly 5.3 million adults, reported height and weight that classified them as obese. The rate of obesity among men increased to 21.8% in 2014 from 20.1% in 2013, and is the highest obesity rate for men reported since 2003 (in 2003, 16.0% of males were obese). Among women, the rate of obesity in 2014 (18.7%) was an increase over 2013 and also up significantly from 2003 when it was 14.5% (Chart 1).

The rate of adults who reported height and weight that classified them as overweight in 2014 was 40.0% for men and 27.5% for women. The percentage of men who were overweight was about the same as 2012, but was a decrease from 41.9% in 2013. The rate among women has been stable since 2003 (Chart 1).

Description for chart 1

When those who were classified as obese were combined with those who were overweight, 61.8% of men (8.2 million) and 46.2% of women (6.1 million) had an increased health risk because of excess weight. The combined rate of overweight and obese women has remained stable since 2009, though has increased from 2003 when it was 57.3% of men and 41.3% of women (Chart 2).

Description for chart 2

Between the ages of 18 and 54, significantly more men than women were obese. After age 54, the rate of obesity was about the same for men and women. Among both sexes, those aged 18 to 19 had the lowest obesity rate (Chart 3).

Description for chart 3

In 2014, the percentage of Canadians who were overweight or obese increased between the ages of 18 and 54, while the percentage of Canadians underweight decreased between the ages of 18 and 54 (Chart 4). People whose height and weight classifies them as underweight are also considered to have increased health risks.

Description for chart 4

The proportion of residents who were obese was lower than the national average (20.2%) in:

Quebec (18.2%)

British Columbia (16.0%)

The proportion of residents who were obese was higher than the national average in:

Newfoundland and Labrador (30.4%)

Nova Scotia (27.8%)

New Brunswick (26.4%)

Manitoba (24.5%)

Saskatchewan (25.1%)

Northwest Territories (33.7%)

Residents of Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Alberta, Yukon, and Nunavut reported rates of obesity that were about the same as the national average (Figure 1).

Description for figure 1

Notes

References

Connor Gorber, Sarah, Shields, Margot, Tremblay, Mark S., McDowell, Ian. 2008. “The feasibility of establishing correction factors to adjust self–reported estimates of obesity.” Health Reports. Vol. 19, no. 3. September. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2008003/article/10680-eng.pdf.

Garriguet, Didier. 2008. “Obesity and the eating habits of the Aboriginal population.” Health Reports. Vol. 19, no. 1. March. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2008001/article/10487-eng.pdf.

Le Petit, Christel, Berthelot, Jean–Marie. 2006. “Obesity—a growing issue.” Health Reports. Vol. 17, no. 3. August. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. p. 43–50. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/studies-etudes/82-003/archive/2006/9278-eng.pdf.

Orpana, Heather M., Tremblay, Mark S., Finès, Philippe. 2007. “Trends in weight change among Canadian adults.” Health Reports. Vol. 18, no. 2. May. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2006005/article/trends-tendances/9633-eng.pdf.

Shields, Margot, Connor Gorber, Sarah, Tremblay, Mark S. 2008. “Estimates of obesity based on self–report versus direct measures.” Health Reports. Vol. 19, no. 2. June. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2008002/article/10569-eng.pdf.

Shields, Margot, Connor Gorber, Sarah, Tremblay, Mark S. 2008. “Effects of measurement on obesity and morbidity.” Health Reports. Vol. 19, no. 2. June. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2008002/article/10564-eng.pdf.

Shields, Margot,Tremblay, Mark S. 2008. “Screen time among Canadian adults: A profile.” Health Reports. Vol. 19, no. 2. June. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2008002/article/10600-eng.pdf.

Shields, Margot, Tremblay, Mark S. 2008. “Sedentary behaviour and obesity among Canadian adults.” Health Reports. Vol. 19, no. 2. June. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2008002/article/10599-eng.pdf.

Shields, Margot. 2006. “Overweight and obesity among children and youth.” Health Reports. Vol. 17, no. 3. August. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. p. 27–42. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/studies-etudes/82-003/archive/2006/9277-eng.pdf.

Shields, Margot, Tjepkema, Michael. 2006. “Trends in adult obesity.” Health Reports. Vol. 17, no. 3. August. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. p. 53–59. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/studies-etudes/82-003/archive/2006/9279-eng.pdf.

Shields, Margot, Tjepkema, Michael. 2006. “Regional differences in obesity.” Health Reports. Vol. 17, no. 3. August. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. p. 61–67. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/studies-etudes/82-003/archive/2006/9280-eng.pdf.

Tjepkema, Michael. 2006. “Adult Obesity.” Health Reports. Vol. 17, no. 3. August. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. p. 9–24. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/studies-etudes/82-003/archive/2006/9276-eng.pdf.

Tremblay, Mark S., Pérez, Claudio E., Ardern, Chris I., Bryan, Shirley N., Katzmarzyk, Peter T. 2005. “Obesity, overweight and ethnicity.” Health Reports. Vol. 16, no. 4. June. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. p. 23–34. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/studies-etudes/82-003/archive/2005/8041-eng.pdf.

Wilkins, Kathryn, de Groh, Margaret. 2005. “Body mass and dependency.” Health Reports. Vol. 17, no. 1. November. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. p. 27–39. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/studies-etudes/82-003/archive/2005/8708-eng.pdf.

Data

Additional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey are available from CANSIM tables 105–0501.