Trends in adult obesity - ARCHIVED

From 1978/79 to 1986-92, the prevalence of obesity among adults was virtually unchanged, but by 2004, the proportion who were obese had increased, particularly among men.

The increase in obesity was particularly sharp among men who were former smokers.

In 1986-92, people in lower-middle, upper-middle and high income households were less likely than those in the lowest income households to be obese; by 2004, the difference had disappeared among men, and among women, persisted only for those in the highest income group.