By the Numbers

Obesity has been highly publicized in recent years. Receiving so much media attention, it is difficult for one to not be aware of high proportion of Canadians who are classified as being overweight or obese. As the tables below clearly demonstrate, we are dealing with a national crisis, that will severely impact our economy through rising health care costs and the associated lost productivity due to sick time, years of life lost, etc.


Body mass index over 25, self-reported, adult, by age group and sex
(Percent)

	2003	2005	2007	2008
	percent
Total, 18 years and over	49.4	50.0	50.8	51.1
Males	57.3	58.1	58.7	58.6
Females	41.3	41.8	42.9	43.5
18 to 19 years	19.6	23.5	21.5	25.6
Males	24.5	28.9	23.5	32.3
Females	14.4	18.2	19.6	17.6
20 to 34 years	39.7	39.3	40.6	40.3
Males	48.8	47.8	50.0	47.9
Females	29.6	29.9	30.4	32.0
35 to 44 years	49.5	50.8	51.2	51.8
Males	60.8	62.0	63.1	62.3
Females	37.3	38.8	39.2	40.9
45 to 64 years	57.7	58.1	58.3	58.1
Males	64.7	65.8	65.3	65.8
Females	50.6	50.2	51.3	50.4
65 years and over	53.8	54.1	56.1	56.7
Males	58.6	59.3	60.8	61.7
Females	50.0	49.8	52.2	52.7
Note: This indicator is measured out of 18 years and over only. Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM, table 105-0501 and Catalogue no. 82-221-X. Last modified: 2010-01-05.