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Canberra, Australia – For the first time, being overweight has overtaken smoking as the leading risk factor contributing to disease in Australia, according to the latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The 2024 Australian Burden of Disease Study, published on Thursday, estimates that Australians lost a combined 5.8 million years of healthy life due to living with disease and dying prematurely in 2024.
The report highlights that 36% of this burden of disease could have been avoided or reduced through addressing modifiable risk factors. Overweight and obesity were identified as the leading modifiable risk factor, surpassing tobacco use, which had previously held this position.
The AIHW noted that the burden of disease attributed to tobacco use has declined by 41% since 2003, likely due to a decrease in smoking prevalence. “This fall is likely due to declines in smoking prevalence,” said AIHW spokesperson Michelle Gourley in a statement.
According to the study, being overweight accounted for 8.3% of Australia’s total disease burden in 2024, compared to 7.6% for tobacco use and 4.8% for all dietary risks. A separate report published by the AIHW in June found that 66% of Australian adults and 26% of children and adolescents were overweight or obese in 2022.
The report also found that cancer remains the leading cause of disease burden in Australia, accounting for 16.4% of the national loss of healthy life. For young Australians, mental health conditions, suicide, and self-inflicted injuries were the leading contributors to the disease burden.
This shift underscores the growing public health challenge posed by overweight and obesity in Australia. Addressing this issue will require comprehensive strategies, including promoting healthier diets, increasing physical activity, and implementing policies to reduce the prevalence of obesity.
For more information, visit the AIHW website.
