Female Obesity in Canada by Age Group (1990-2022)

The prevalence of obesity among Canadian women has steadily increased over the past three decades across all age groups. Obesity is medically defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher, a metric derived by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters.

Key Highlights:

• In 2022, the overall obesity rate among women aged 18 and above ranged from 17% (ages 18–19) to 31% (ages 60–84).
• The highest obesity rates were found among women aged 60–84, peaking at 31%, while younger women aged 18–24 had lower rates (17–19%).
• Since 1990, obesity rates have more than tripled for many younger and middle-aged groups, highlighting a growing national health concern.

Age Trends in Obesity Among Women

Older age groups generally show higher obesity rates, likely due to changes in metabolism, physical activity, and health conditions. However, the rising prevalence in younger women underscores the impact of modern lifestyle factors like diet, sedentary habits, and stress.

What Is Obesity and How Is It Measured?

Obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
BMI is calculated using the formula:

BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height² (m²)

Though BMI doesn’t account for muscle mass or fat distribution, it remains a widely used indicator of health risk.

Why This Matters

Obesity significantly increases the risk of:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Hypertension
• Sleep apnea
• Certain cancers

Understanding age-related obesity trends can help with targeted interventions, public health campaigns, and personal lifestyle changes.

Yearly Obesity Trend in Canadian Women (1990-2022)

Year	18-19	20-24	25-29	30-34	35-39	40-44	45-49	50-54	55-59	60-64	65-69	70-74	75-79	80-84	85plus
1990	5%	7%	9%	11%	13%	15%	17%	20%	22%	22%	21%	19%	15%	11%	6%
1991	6%	7%	10%	12%	14%	16%	18%	20%	22%	23%	22%	20%	16%	12%	6%
1992	6%	8%	10%	12%	14%	16%	19%	21%	23%	24%	23%	21%	17%	12%	7%
1993	7%	8%	11%	13%	15%	17%	19%	22%	24%	24%	24%	21%	18%	13%	7%
1994	7%	9%	11%	14%	16%	18%	20%	22%	24%	25%	24%	22%	18%	14%	7%
1995	8%	9%	12%	14%	16%	18%	21%	23%	25%	26%	25%	23%	19%	14%	8%
1996	8%	10%	13%	15%	17%	19%	21%	24%	25%	26%	26%	23%	20%	15%	8%
1997	9%	11%	13%	16%	18%	20%	22%	24%	26%	27%	26%	24%	21%	16%	9%
1998	9%	11%	14%	16%	18%	20%	22%	25%	27%	27%	27%	25%	21%	16%	9%
1999	10%	12%	14%	17%	19%	21%	23%	25%	27%	28%	27%	25%	22%	17%	10%
2000	10%	12%	15%	17%	19%	21%	23%	26%	28%	28%	28%	26%	22%	18%	10%
2001	11%	13%	15%	18%	20%	22%	24%	26%	28%	29%	28%	26%	23%	18%	11%
2002	11%	13%	16%	18%	20%	22%	24%	27%	28%	29%	29%	27%	24%	19%	11%
2003	11%	14%	16%	19%	21%	23%	25%	27%	29%	30%	29%	27%	24%	19%	12%
2004	12%	14%	17%	19%	21%	23%	25%	27%	29%	30%	30%	28%	24%	20%	12%
2005	12%	14%	17%	20%	22%	23%	25%	27%	29%	30%	30%	28%	25%	20%	12%
2006	13%	15%	18%	20%	22%	24%	26%	28%	29%	30%	30%	28%	25%	20%	13%
2007	13%	15%	18%	20%	22%	24%	26%	28%	30%	31%	30%	29%	26%	21%	13%
2008	13%	16%	18%	21%	23%	24%	26%	28%	30%	31%	31%	29%	26%	21%	13%
2009	14%	16%	19%	21%	23%	25%	26%	28%	30%	31%	31%	29%	26%	22%	14%
2010	14%	16%	19%	21%	23%	25%	27%	28%	30%	31%	31%	30%	27%	22%	14%
2011	14%	17%	19%	22%	23%	25%	27%	28%	30%	31%	31%	30%	27%	22%	14%
2012	15%	17%	20%	22%	24%	25%	27%	29%	30%	31%	31%	30%	27%	22%	15%
2013	15%	17%	20%	22%	24%	25%	27%	29%	30%	31%	31%	30%	27%	23%	15%
2014	15%	17%	20%	22%	24%	25%	27%	29%	30%	31%	31%	30%	27%	23%	15%
2015	15%	18%	20%	22%	24%	25%	27%	29%	30%	31%	31%	30%	27%	23%	15%
2016	15%	18%	21%	23%	24%	26%	27%	29%	30%	31%	31%	30%	28%	23%	15%
2017	16%	18%	21%	23%	24%	26%	27%	28%	30%	31%	31%	30%	28%	23%	16%
2018	16%	18%	21%	23%	24%	26%	27%	28%	30%	31%	31%	30%	28%	23%	16%
2019	16%	18%	21%	23%	25%	26%	27%	28%	30%	31%	31%	30%	28%	24%	16%
2020	16%	19%	21%	23%	25%	26%	27%	28%	30%	31%	31%	31%	28%	24%	16%
2021	17%	19%	21%	23%	25%	26%	27%	28%	30%	31%	31%	31%	28%	24%	16%
2022	17%	19%	22%	24%	25%	26%	27%	28%	30%	31%	31%	31%	28%	24%	16%

Source:

NCD-RisC, National Adult Body-Mass Index