Levels of obesity projected to increase

If current weight gain rates are continued, normal-weight adults will constitute less than a third of the population by 2025, and the obesity prevalence will have increased by 65 per cent, according to Monash University research.

In findings published in Obesity, the research conducted by lead authors, Helen Walls and Dianna Magliano, followed the weight of a group of adult participants aged under 25 years of age in the year 2000.

The research found that in this population, approximately one-fifth of those with normal weight or overweight progressed to a higher weight category within five years.

Following these trends, only about 28 per cent of adults would be at a healthy weight in 2025 but nearly 34 per cent would be obese.

Dr Helen Walls, study leader and a research fellow at Monash University said that while the percentage of people who were overweight was expected to remain steady - about 38 per cent, over the 25 year period the numbers of obese people would increase dramatically.

"Many people in the overweight category will move into the obese category, however, they are being replaced by increasing numbers of people who are currently in the normal weight range," Dr Walls said.