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

How Obesity Rates Have Changed Over the Decades

Obesity in Canada has steadily increased since 1990, particularly among men. As of 2022, the prevalence of obesity among adult men in Canada has reached significant levels across all age groups. By analyzing historical data by age group, we can better understand how weight trends have shifted over time.

Key Findings: Male Obesity in Canada by Age Group

The table below shows the percentage of Canadian men classified as obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) by age group, from 1990 to 2022. This 33-year timeline reflects the growing public health concern surrounding weight-related conditions in Canada.

Highest Obesity Rates in 2022:

• Age 55–59 and 60–64: 35%
• Age 50–54 and 65–69: 34%
• Age 45–49 and 70–74: 33%

Lowest Obesity Rates in 2022:

• Age 18–19 and 85+: 16%
• Age 20–24: 19%

These patterns are consistent with global trends that show obesity increasing during midlife and declining in older populations.

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Why Does Obesity Peak in Middle Age?

Several factors contribute to the high obesity rates among men aged 45–64:

• Slower metabolism
• Sedentary jobs and reduced physical activity
• Higher caloric intake and stress
• Chronic health conditions and medication effects

On the other hand, older adults (75+) may lose weight due to illness, muscle loss (sarcopenia), or reduced appetite, while younger adults often benefit from higher metabolic rates and more active lifestyles.

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Data Snapshot: Obesity Prevalence in Canadian Men (1990 vs. 2022)

Age Group	1990	2022
18–19	6%	16%
20–24	7%	19%
25–29	9%	23%
30–34	12%	26%
35–39	14%	28%
40–44	16%	30%
45–49	18%	32%
50–54	20%	33%
55–59	20%	35%
60–64	20%	35%
65–69	19%	34%
70–74	16%	33%
75–79	13%	29%
80–84	9%	24%
85+	5%	16%

From 1990 to 2022, the obesity rate in most age brackets more than doubled. For instance, men aged 25–29 had an obesity rate of 9% in 1990 and 23% in 2022.

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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 Men (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	6%	7%	9%	12%	14%	16%	18%	20%	20%	20%	19%	16%	13%	9%	5%
1991	6%	8%	10%	12%	15%	17%	19%	20%	21%	21%	19%	17%	14%	10%	5%
1992	6%	8%	11%	13%	16%	18%	20%	21%	22%	21%	20%	18%	14%	10%	5%
1993	7%	9%	11%	14%	16%	19%	20%	22%	22%	22%	21%	18%	15%	11%	6%
1994	7%	9%	12%	14%	17%	19%	21%	23%	23%	23%	22%	19%	16%	12%	6%
1995	8%	10%	12%	15%	18%	20%	22%	23%	24%	24%	22%	20%	17%	12%	6%
1996	8%	10%	13%	16%	18%	21%	23%	24%	25%	24%	23%	21%	17%	13%	7%
1997	9%	11%	14%	16%	19%	21%	23%	25%	25%	25%	24%	22%	18%	13%	7%
1998	9%	11%	14%	17%	20%	22%	24%	25%	26%	26%	25%	22%	19%	14%	8%
1999	10%	12%	15%	18%	20%	23%	25%	26%	27%	27%	25%	23%	19%	15%	8%
2000	10%	12%	15%	18%	21%	23%	25%	27%	28%	27%	26%	24%	20%	15%	9%
2001	11%	13%	16%	19%	22%	24%	26%	27%	28%	28%	27%	25%	21%	16%	9%
2002	11%	13%	17%	20%	22%	25%	27%	28%	29%	29%	28%	25%	22%	17%	9%
2003	11%	14%	17%	20%	23%	25%	27%	29%	29%	29%	28%	26%	22%	17%	10%
2004	12%	14%	18%	21%	23%	26%	28%	29%	30%	30%	29%	26%	23%	18%	10%
2005	12%	15%	18%	21%	24%	26%	28%	30%	30%	30%	29%	27%	23%	18%	11%
2006	13%	15%	19%	22%	24%	27%	29%	30%	31%	31%	30%	28%	24%	19%	11%
2007	13%	16%	19%	22%	25%	27%	29%	30%	31%	31%	30%	28%	24%	19%	11%
2008	13%	16%	19%	22%	25%	27%	29%	31%	32%	32%	31%	29%	25%	20%	12%
2009	14%	16%	20%	23%	25%	28%	30%	31%	32%	32%	31%	29%	25%	20%	12%
2010	14%	17%	20%	23%	26%	28%	30%	31%	32%	32%	31%	29%	26%	20%	12%
2011	14%	17%	20%	23%	26%	28%	30%	32%	32%	33%	32%	30%	26%	21%	13%
2012	14%	17%	21%	23%	26%	28%	30%	32%	33%	33%	32%	30%	26%	21%	13%
2013	14%	17%	21%	24%	26%	28%	30%	32%	33%	33%	32%	30%	26%	21%	13%
2014	15%	17%	21%	24%	26%	29%	30%	32%	33%	33%	32%	30%	27%	22%	14%
2015	15%	18%	21%	24%	26%	29%	31%	32%	33%	33%	33%	30%	27%	22%	14%
2016	15%	18%	21%	24%	27%	29%	31%	32%	33%	34%	33%	31%	27%	22%	14%
2017	15%	18%	22%	24%	27%	29%	31%	32%	33%	34%	33%	31%	28%	22%	14%
2018	15%	18%	22%	25%	27%	29%	31%	33%	34%	34%	33%	31%	28%	23%	15%
2019	15%	19%	22%	25%	27%	29%	31%	33%	34%	34%	34%	32%	28%	23%	15%
2020	16%	19%	22%	25%	27%	30%	31%	33%	34%	34%	34%	32%	28%	23%	15%
2021	16%	19%	23%	25%	28%	30%	32%	33%	34%	35%	34%	32%	29%	24%	16%
2022	16%	19%	23%	26%	28%	30%	32%	33%	35%	35%	34%	33%	29%	24%	16%

Source:

NCD-RisC, National Adult Body-Mass Index