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Story: Body shape and dieting

Adult obesity: percentages of overweight and obese adults in OECD countries

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Adult obesity: percentages of overweight and obese adults in OECD countries

This graph shows the percentage of men and women who were overweight (including obese) in OECD countries in the first decade of the 21st century. New Zealand was fourth-highest out of 33 countries. The OECD average rate was 17.2% for women and 16.6% for men. In New Zealand it was 27% for women and 26% for men.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: OECD

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How to cite this page

Caroline Daley, Body shape and dieting – Obesity and health concerns, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/graph/41406/adult-obesity-percentages-of-overweight-and-obese-adults-in-oecd-countries (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Caroline Daley, published 22 April 2013.