Indicator Metadata

Percentage of Adults Considered Obese, Self-Reported

Population age 18 and older considered obese divided by the total population age 18 and older

Population estimates are based on weighted survey responses to reflect the total population.

Place of residence

Percentage or proportion

None

Not applicable

Description:
Population age 18 and older (based on weighted survey responses)
Exclusions:
1. Pregnant females and persons less than 3 feet (0.914 metres) tall or greater than 6 feet 11 inches (2.108 metres) tall

2. Non-response categories (refusal, don’t know and not stated) are excluded as of 2009.

Description:
Population age 18 and older with body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30.00 kg/m², based on self-reported height and weight (based on weighted survey responses)

BMI is calculated by dividing the respondent's body weight (in kilograms) by his or her height (in metres) squared. Given that the literature shows self-reported data among adults underestimates weight and overestimates height, the CCHS applied BMI correction equations to the obesity estimates.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines, the index for body weight classification is as follows:

• Less than 18.50: underweight
• 18.50 to 24.99: normal weight
• 25.00 to 29.99: overweight
• 30.00 to 34.99: obese, class I
• 35.00 to 39.99: obese, class II
• 40.00 or greater: obese, class III

The prevalence of obesity has been increasing in Canada, and obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases and cancer. Factors associated with obesity include dietary behaviours, physical inactivity and characteristics of the environment such as access to active modes of transportation and healthy foods.

High results are undesirable.

Social Determinants of Health: Biological, material, psychosocial and behavioural factors

Not applicable

Not applicable

Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: International survey. British Medical Journal. 2000.

Health Canada. Canadian Guidelines for Body Weight Classification in Adults — Quick Reference Tool for Professionals. 2003.

Statistics Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey — Annual component (CCHS). Accessed January 22, 2018.

Canadian Research Data Centre Network. The Canadian Community Health Survey: What’s New in the 2015 Cycle? [PPT presentation]. January 25, 2017.

CCHS, Statistics Canada, Statistics Canada, CANSIM Table 105-0509: Canadian health characteristics, two year period estimates, by age group and sex, Canada, provinces, territories and health regions.

Type of Year:
Calendar
First Available Year:
2015
Last Available Year:
2016

All provinces/territories

National, Province/Territory, Region

Every year

Web Tool:
Your Health System: In Depth
URL:
Accessing Indicator Results on Your Health System: In Depth

Not applicable

Respondents with higher BMIs may be more likely to be in the non-response categories and therefore to be excluded from indicator calculation as of 2009.

Self-reported height and weight generally underestimate BMI. Starting in 2007, Statistics Canada conducts the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), which records physical measurements of height and weight. Estimates of overweight and obesity are available at the national level only.

Data for the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is collected yearly from a sample of approximately 65,000 respondents. CANSIM Table 105-0509 presents estimates from 2-year combined data and features estimates for all provinces and territories as well as for health regions. The 2-year combined data has higher precision (less variability) than annual estimates; annual CCHS estimates are not available at the health region level.

Some values have data quality flags that indicate "use with caution" or "suppressed" due to high coefficients of variation: health regions with small populations and results disaggregated by age group or sex within small regions.

The CCHS covers the population age 12 and older living in the 10 provinces and 3 territories. Excluded from the survey's coverage are

• Persons living on reserves and other Aboriginal settlements in the provinces
• Full-time members of the Canadian Forces
• The population of institutionalized persons
• Persons living in 2 Quebec health regions: Nunavik Region and Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James Region
  
  

Altogether, these exclusions represent less than 3% of the Canadian population age 12 and older.

As a result of a redesign in 2015, the CCHS has a new collection strategy and sample design. For this reason, Statistics Canada does not recommend making comparisons with CCHS data from 2001 to 2014.

In addition to the 2015 CCHS redesign, a definition change was implemented in 2004 to conform with WHO and Health Canada guidelines for body weight classification. The index is calculated for the population age 18 and older, excluding pregnant females and persons less than 3 feet (0.914 metres) tall or greater than 6 feet 11 inches (2.108 metres) tall.

This indicator is calculated based on 2 years of pooled data from 2015 and 2016.

Data for Ontario’s local health integration networks and British Columbia’s regional health authorities was received from Statistics Canada through custom tabulation requests:

Source: Statistics Canada. Selected CCHS Indicators for Ontario by Local Health Integration Network, 2015–2016. February 27, 2018. Reproduced and distributed on an "as is" basis with the permission of Statistics Canada.

Source: Statistics Canada. Selected CCHS Indicators for British Columbia by Regional Health Authority, 2015–2016. March 12, 2018. Reproduced and distributed on an "as is" basis with the permission of Statistics Canada.

Indicator results are also available in

• Your Health System: In Brief
• OECD Interactive Tool
  
  

Please note that these results are calculated based on the population age 15+.

• Health Inequalities Interactive Tool
  
  

Please note that these results are calculated based on age-standardization to the 2011 Canadian standard population.