Summary: In the 2007-2009 time period, the percentage of young Canadians in each measured BMI category was as follows: adolescent boys aged 12 to 19 years, 12% were obese, 20% were overweight, 63% were normal weight, and 5% were underweight; adolescent girls aged 12 to 19 years, 9% were obese, 18% were overweight, 67% were normal weight, and 6% were underweight; young men aged 20 to 29 years, 13% were obese, 34% were overweight, 52% were normal weight, and 1% were underweight; and young women aged 20 to 29 years, 18% were obese, 21% were overweight, 53% were normal weight, and 8% were underweight.
Within the total population aged 12 years and older, the percentage in each measured BMI category for males was as follows; 23% were obese, 42% were overweight, 34% were normal weight, and 1% were underweight; and for females, 22% were obese, 28% were overweight, 47% were normal weight, and 3% were underweight.
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada using data from Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2007-2009, Statistics Canada.
| Youth (12 to 19 years) | Young adults (20 to 29 years) | Total population (12+ years) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adolescent boys | Adolescent girls | Young men | Young women | Males | Females | |
| Obese | 12% | 9% | 13% | 18% | 23% | 22% |
| Overweight | 20% | 18% | 34% | 21% | 42% | 28% |
| Normal | 63% | 67% | 52% | 53% | 34% | 47% |
| Underweight | 5% | 6% | 1% | 8% | 1% | 3% |
Note: Underweight, overweight and obesity cut-points for youth can be found in Appendix C: Definitions and Data Sources for Indicators.