Queensland’s obesity challenge: an urgent call to action

Three people run with surfboards into the ocean.

World Obesity Day, Wednesday March 4, advocates for urgent action as global obesity projections continue to rise
Queensland has the second highest rates of overweight and obesity in Australia
Consumer research revealed that 86% surveyed want to eat healthier
Consumer research showed well over half of Queenslanders view Health and Wellbeing Queensland as credible and trustworthy, reflecting strong community expectations for government to provide clear, reliable health guidance.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland is calling for urgent action this World Obesity Day (4 March), as alarming new statistics reveal the growing impact of overweight and obesity on Queenslanders.

With the World Obesity Federation’s 2026 theme, 8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity, highlighting the global scale of the issue, Health and Wellbeing Queensland is urging individuals, communities, and policymakers to work together to address this critical public health challenge.

In Queensland, 2.736 million adults (69%) are living with overweight or obesity, with half of this group (1.37 million) classified as having obesity. Among children aged 2–17, 336,100 (31.8%) are living with overweight or obesity.¹

Health and Wellbeing Queensland Chief Executive, Dr Robyn Littlewood, said ‘Queensland has the second-highest rates of overweight and obesity in Australia’.

’Living with overweight or obesity can reduce life expectancy by up to 10 years. If we don’t act now, research shows that children born this decade may face shorter lives than their parents due to obesity,’ Dr Littlewood said.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland is at the forefront of efforts to reduce the risk factors for chronic disease, with a focus on improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, and fostering social connections. These efforts are part of a broader mission to improve the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders while reducing the burden on the state’s healthcare system.

‘So many Queenslanders are embracing ways to improve their health, and new research commissioned by Health and Wellbeing Queensland shows that improving their diet is a top priority,’ Dr Littlewood said.

Independent research conducted with over 1,600 Queenslanders aged 25–54 as part of the Healthy is Happening campaign revealed that many residents are striving to make healthier choices. However, significant barriers remain.

The research found that:

86% of respondents identified ‘eating healthier’ as their biggest challenge
81% said they wished they went for a walk more often
More than half (56%) reported that eating healthy was too expensive.

‘Families are telling us they want clearer guidance about what’s healthy and practical support to make those choices,’ Dr Littlewood said.

‘Queenslanders expect government and trusted health organisations to help cut through confusion, provide credible advice, and make healthy options easier to identify and afford. That’s a responsibility we take seriously.’

‘People want to do the right thing, but the system isn’t making it easy,’ Dr Littlewood said.

‘We’re all so busy, and prepping veggies can feel like an extra chore. But eating more vegetables is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve health. Vegetables are also great value for money—at just 70 cents per serve, they’re often cheaper than common snack foods like muesli bars or biscuits, which average 84 cents per serve.’

The 2025 Plus One Serve strategy and modelling (developed by AUSVEG and Hort Innovation) found that increasing vegetable consumption by as little as 1 extra serve per day per person will deliver benefits valued at $4.68 billion, which includes a $1.38 billion reduction in healthcare costs.²

The report recommends a comprehensive national strategy to increase vegetable consumption, focusing on affordability, industry integration, and sustained behaviour change.

‘As an agency, these recommendations align closely with our work across Queensland. By supporting individuals and driving systems change, we aim to ease the burden on the health system while empowering Queenslanders to live healthier lives,’ Dr Littlewood said.

Initiatives like Making Healthy Happen 2032, Queensland’s response to the National Obesity Strategy, underpin free or low-cost programs such as My health for life, Wellness My Way, Logan Healthy Living and Pick of the Crop, designed to empower Queenslanders to make small, sustainable changes to their health. These efforts focus on improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, and fostering social connections to prevent chronic disease.

Dr Littlewood emphasised the importance of fostering positive behaviours and avoiding stigma.

‘Queenslanders don’t want blame, they want support. They expect leadership that provides practical tools, evidence-based information, and environments that make healthy choices the easy choices,’ she said.

This World Obesity Day, Health and Wellbeing Queensland is leading the charge to create a healthier future for all Queenslanders no matter where they are.

Media contact details: Health and Wellbeing Queensland, 0439 599 210