About 1 in 3 Canadian adults (33%) had obesity in 2022 to 2024, up from 25% before the pandemic. That figure comes from physically measured height and weight, not a survey where people guess their own numbers. At Fitness Avenue, a Canadian home gym equipment retailer serving Canadians since 2007, we follow the activity and health data behind how the country trains, and obesity is the headline number behind most of it. Below is the current picture, broken down by year, age, sex, province, and against the United States, with a primary source on every figure.
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Key Takeaways
- 33% of adults aged 18 to 79 had obesity in 2022 to 2024 (measured), up from 25% in 2016 to 2019.
- 68% of adults were overweight or living with obesity combined.
- Young adults 20 to 39 saw the sharpest rise, from 20% to 31%.
- Newfoundland and Labrador (about 40%) had the highest provincial rate; British Columbia (about 23%) the lowest (self-reported, 2018).
- 31% of children and youth aged 5 to 17 were overweight or obese, with 11% obese.
- Severe obesity more than quadrupled since 1985, reaching 1.9 million adults by 2016.
- Obesity costs Canada about $27.6 billion a year (2023).
- Canada's measured rate (33%) sits below the United States (40.3%) but is climbing.
Obesity Rate in Canada (2022 to 2024)
33% of Canadian adults aged 18 to 79 had obesity in 2022 to 2024, according to Statistics Canada's Canadian Health Measures Survey. That is up from 25% in the 2016 to 2019 cycle, an eight-point jump in roughly six years.
About 1 in 3 Canadian adults now has obesity, up eight points from before the pandemic. Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Health Measures Survey.
These are measured rates. Survey staff recorded each person's height and weight directly, so the number does not depend on anyone reporting their own weight. That matters, because Canadians who report their own numbers tend to come in lower, as the measured versus self-reported section explains.
Overweight and Obesity Combined in Canada
68% of Canadian adults aged 18 to 79 were overweight or living with obesity combined in 2022 to 2024, up from 60% in 2016 to 2019 (Statistics Canada). Men carried the higher combined rate.
| Category (measured, 2022 to 2024) | Men | Women | All adults 18 to 79 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overweight or obese (combined) | 74% | 62% | 68% |
| Obese only | 35% | 32% | 33% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2022 to 2024.
Two in three Canadian adults are overweight or obese, with men carrying the higher combined rate. Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2022 to 2024.
Measured vs Self-Reported Obesity Rates
Canada publishes two different obesity rates, and the gap between them is a finding on its own. The measured rate is 33% (Statistics Canada, 2022 to 2024). The self-reported obesity rate is 29.5%, from the Public Health Agency of Canada for 2021, where Canadians reported their own height and weight.
People under-report weight and over-report height, so self-reported figures run lower. In the same measured survey, 69% of men reported being overweight or obese while 74% were measured as such. This is why "26.8%," "29.5%," and "33%" all circulate for Canada at once. They are not contradictions. They are different instruments, and every breakdown below is labelled with the one it came from.
| Obesity rate for Canadian adults | Value | Year | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics Canada, CHMS | 33% | 2022 to 2024 | Measured |
| Public Health Agency of Canada | 29.5% | 2021 | Self-reported |
| Statistics Canada health fact sheet | 26.8% | 2018 | Self-reported |
| World Health Organization (modelled) | 27% | 2022 | Modelled estimate |
Canadian Obesity Rate by Year (Trend)
Canada's adult obesity rate has climbed for four decades, and the pandemic accelerated it. Measured data from Statistics Canada's obesity analysis show the rise concentrated in younger and middle-aged adults, with the youngest group tracked as ages 20 to 39.
| Group | Earlier rate | Latest rate | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults 20 to 39 | 20% (2019) | 31% (2024) | Measured |
| Adults 40 to 59 | 25% (2009) | 36% (2024) | Measured |
| Adults 60 to 79 | 29% (2013) | 34% (2024) | Measured |
| All adults (self-reported) | 20.6% (2000 to 2001) | 28.2% (2019 to 2020) | Self-reported |
Source: Statistics Canada (measured, to 2024); Public Health Agency of Canada (self-reported trend).
Academic work agrees on the direction. A peer-reviewed study tracked measured obesity from 2007 to 2019, finding it peaked at 25.9% in 2014 to 2015 before dipping to 24.3% in 2019, then the pandemic pushed it higher. A separate CMAJ Open study using self-reported data found the rate rose from 22.2% in 2005 to 27.2% by 2017 to 2018. In short, Canada moved from roughly 1 in 4 adults to 1 in 3 in under two decades.
Young adults saw the sharpest rise in measured obesity between 2019 and 2024. Source: Statistics Canada.
Obesity in Canada by Age Group
Obesity peaks among adults 40 to 59 and is rising fastest among the youngest adults. In 2024, measured obesity reached 36% for ages 40 to 59, 34% for ages 60 to 79, and 31% for ages 20 to 39 (Statistics Canada).
The steepest climb is among young adults. The sex breakdown below uses Statistics Canada's 18 to 39 age band, slightly wider than the 20 to 39 band in the trend figures above. Obesity among adults aged 18 to 39 rose by sex as follows:
| Adults 18 to 39 (measured) | 2016 to 2019 | 2022 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 22% | 33% |
| Women | 17% | 29% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Health Measures Survey.
Obesity in Canada by Sex
35% of men and 32% of women aged 18 to 79 had obesity in 2022 to 2024, both up from 27% and 24% in 2016 to 2019 (Statistics Canada). Men also carried the higher combined overweight-or-obese rate, at 74% versus 62% for women.
Men have the higher obesity rate, but both sexes climbed by the same eight points. Source: Statistics Canada.
Women record the higher rate for abdominal obesity, a separate measure covered in the abdominal obesity section.
Obesity Rate in Canada by Province
Obesity is highest in Atlantic Canada and lowest in British Columbia. The most complete provincial breakdown comes from a Statistics Canada health fact sheet for 2018, based on self-reported height and weight (no measured provincial breakdown is published).
| Province (self-reported, 2018) | Adult obesity rate |
|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 40.2% |
| Prince Edward Island | 37.8% |
| New Brunswick | 35.3% |
| Saskatchewan | 34.8% |
| Nova Scotia | 33.7% |
| Manitoba | 30.8% |
| Alberta | 28.8% |
| Ontario | 26.1% |
| Quebec | 25.0% |
| British Columbia | 23.1% |
| Canada (national) | 26.8% |
Source: Statistics Canada health fact sheet, self-reported, 2018.
The ranking holds across sources. The CMAJ Open study put Newfoundland and Labrador highest at 39.4% and British Columbia lowest at 22.8% for 2017 to 2018, within a point of the fact-sheet figures.
Obesity is highest in Atlantic Canada and lowest in British Columbia (national rate 26.8%). Source: Statistics Canada health fact sheet, self-reported, 2018.
Childhood Obesity Rate in Canada
31% of Canadian children and youth aged 5 to 17 were overweight or obese in 2022 to 2024, with 11% in the obesity range (Statistics Canada). Unlike the adult trend, childhood rates have held relatively steady over the past decade.
| Group | 2009 | 2024 | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children 5 to 11, obese | 13% | 11% | Measured |
| Youth 12 to 17, obese | 15% | just under 12% | Measured |
| Children and youth 5 to 17, overweight or obese | n/a | 31% | Measured |
Source: Statistics Canada, measured, 2009 to 2024.
Severe Obesity in Canada
Severe obesity, a BMI of 40 or higher, is the fastest-growing weight category in Canada. A Canadian clinical practice guideline found it increased more than fourfold since 1985 and affected an estimated 1.9 million Canadian adults in 2016.
| Severe obesity (Class III, BMI 40+) | 2000 to 2001 | 2019 to 2020 | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 1.3% | 2.9% | Self-reported |
| Women | 2.0% | 4.0% | Self-reported |
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, self-reported.
Self-reported severe obesity roughly doubled between 2000 and 2020, climbing from 1.3% to 2.9% among men and from 2.0% to 4.0% among women (Public Health Agency of Canada).
Severe obesity roughly doubled for both men and women over two decades. Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, self-reported.
Abdominal Obesity in Canada
49% of Canadian adults aged 18 to 79 had a high-risk waist measurement in 2022 to 2024, meaning abdominal obesity affected nearly half of adults (Statistics Canada). Women recorded the higher rate here, at 55% versus 42% for men.
This measure answers a common criticism of BMI, that it can misjudge muscular people. Waist circumference is measured directly and captures fat carried around the abdomen, the pattern most tied to health risk. On this yardstick, Canada's weight problem looks larger, not smaller.
How Much Weight Canadians Gained (2019 to 2024)
Canadians got measurably heavier through the pandemic years. Statistics Canada compared measured weights from 2019 with 2024 and found gains across every adult age group, largest among the youngest.
| Adults | Average weight gain | Average waist gain |
|---|---|---|
| 20 to 39 | 10.6 lb (4.8 kg) | 1.4 in (3.5 cm) |
| 40 to 59 | 7.7 lb (3.5 kg) | 0.8 in (2.1 cm) |
| 60 to 79 | 6.4 lb (2.9 kg) | 1.3 in (3.2 cm) |
Source: Statistics Canada, measured, 2019 to 2024.
Self-reports match the direction. A survey reported by Global News found about 40% of Canadians said they had gained weight in the first year of the pandemic.
Obesity by Education and Community Type
Obesity in Canada tracks with education and where people live. Self-reported data from the Public Health Agency of Canada for 2021 show a clear gradient: rates fall as education rises, and rural adults carry more weight than urban adults.
| Group (self-reported, 2021) | Adult obesity rate |
|---|---|
| Less than secondary education | 35.1% |
| Secondary education | 36.7% |
| Post-secondary education | 28.3% |
| Urban residents | 28.6% |
| Rural residents | 33.6% |
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, self-reported, 2021.
Canada does not publish a clean national obesity breakdown by household income, so education and community type are the closest available markers of the socioeconomic gap.
Adults with post-secondary education had the lowest obesity rate of the three education groups. Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, self-reported, 2021.
Obesity Among Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Obesity rates are higher among Indigenous Peoples in Canada, though the most complete national comparison is now dated. A Public Health Agency of Canada report using 2007 to 2008 survey data found 25.7% of off-reserve Indigenous adults had obesity versus 17.4% of non-Indigenous adults.
| Population | Adult obesity rate | Data period |
|---|---|---|
| First Nations on-reserve | 36.0% | 2002/03 |
| Métis | 26.4% | 2007/08 |
| Off-reserve Indigenous (all) | 25.7% | 2007/08 |
| Inuit | 23.9% | 2007/08 |
| Non-Indigenous | 17.4% | 2007/08 |
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada. Figures come from different surveys and mix self-reported and measured methods.
These figures are more than 15 years old, and no current national breakdown by Indigenous identity has replaced them. Among Indigenous children in the same data, obesity ranged from 16.9% (Métis) to 25.6% (Inuit).
Physical Inactivity and Obesity in Canada
Most Canadian adults do not meet the national activity guideline, and inactivity is one of the strongest drivers behind the rising weight numbers. 46% of adults met the recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity a week in 2022 to 2024, according to ParticipACTION, meaning more than half fall short.
- 32% of adults took an average of 7,500 or more steps a day (ParticipACTION).
- 40% of adults aged 65 and over met the 150-minute guideline, per the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.
- Worldwide, insufficient activity is projected to rise from 31.3% of adults in 2022 to 34.7% by 2030, according to a global study of physical-activity data.
Canada's activity target comes from the CSEP 24-Hour Movement Guidelines: 150 minutes of activity a week, muscle-strengthening twice a week, no more than eight hours of sedentary time a day, and seven to nine hours of sleep. For the full inactivity picture, see our Canadian sedentary lifestyle statistics.
More than half of Canadian adults fall short of the national activity guideline. Sources: ParticipACTION; Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.
Obesity and Related Health Conditions
Obesity raises the risk of many other chronic conditions, and its heaviest toll shows up in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Canada reports that Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes now make up a large and growing share of the population.
| Condition (2024) | People affected | Share of Canadians |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (diagnosed and undiagnosed) | 5.8 million | 15% |
| Diabetes or prediabetes | 11.9 million | 30% |
| Direct healthcare cost of diabetes | $18.25 billion | n/a |
Source: Diabetes Canada, 2024.
Excess weight is also an established risk factor for heart disease and stroke, alongside high blood pressure and diabetes.
The Economic Cost of Obesity in Canada
Obesity cost Canada an estimated $27.6 billion in 2023, according to a peer-reviewed study modelling the cost of inaction. That splits into $5.9 billion in direct healthcare costs and $21.7 billion in indirect costs such as lost productivity and absenteeism.
| Cost of obesity in Canada (2023) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total cost of inaction | $27.6 billion |
| Direct healthcare cost | $5.9 billion |
| Indirect cost (productivity, absenteeism) | $21.7 billion |
| Direct medical cost per person with obesity | $572 per year |
Source: Peer-reviewed cost-of-inaction study, 2023.
The burden keeps growing. For comparison, an earlier federal estimate put the direct and indirect cost of obesity at $4.6 billion in 2008, several times lower than today's figure.
Lost productivity and absenteeism drive most of the $27.6 billion annual cost of obesity in Canada. Source: peer-reviewed cost-of-inaction study, 2023.
Obesity Rate: Canada vs the United States
Canada's obesity rate is lower than the United States on a like-for-like measured basis, but the gap is not as wide as many assume. Canada's measured rate is 33%, while the United States sits at 40.3%, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2021 to 2023.
| Country or benchmark | Adult obesity rate | Method |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 40.3% | Measured (NHANES) |
| Canada | 33% | Measured (CHMS) |
| OECD average | 25.7% | Mixed |
| Canada (OECD country note) | 24.3% | Self-reported comparison |
Source: CDC (US); Statistics Canada (Canada); OECD.
An OECD comparison placed Canada at 24.3% against an OECD average of 25.7%, though that ranking uses self-reported data and is not directly comparable to the measured 33%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Canadian province has the highest obesity rate?
Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest adult obesity rate in Canada, at about 40% (self-reported, 2018). British Columbia has the lowest at about 23%. Atlantic provinces cluster at the top, and the western provinces plus Quebec and Ontario sit lower.
How does Canada's obesity rate compare to the US?
Canada's measured adult obesity rate is 33%, lower than the United States at 40.3%. Both figures come from surveys that physically measure height and weight, so they are directly comparable. Canada's rate is climbing faster than in the past.
What is the projected obesity rate in Canada?
Canada does not publish an official projection of its future obesity rate. Every measured trend since 2016 points upward, especially among younger adults, where the rate rose from 20% to 31% between 2019 and 2024. Health agencies expect the associated costs to keep climbing from the current $27.6 billion a year.
Why is Canada's obesity rate rising?
The sharpest rise came out of the pandemic years, when adults 20 to 39 gained an average of 10.6 lb (4.8 kg) between 2019 and 2024. More than half of Canadian adults do not meet the national activity guideline, and sedentary time has grown. These are behavioural and environmental shifts, not a change in how obesity is measured.
The Bottom Line
About 1 in 3 Canadian adults now has obesity, two-thirds are overweight or obese combined, and the rate is climbing fastest among young adults. The measured numbers are higher than the self-reported ones Canadians are used to seeing, severe obesity has more than quadrupled since 1985, and the annual cost has reached $27.6 billion. The one lever most within reach is daily movement, since more than half of adults fall short of the basic activity guideline.
As a Canadian home gym equipment retailer serving Canadians since 2007, Fitness Avenue helps people build consistent training routines at home, where the barrier of time and travel disappears. If the data here has you thinking about your own routine, start with our home gym equipment collection or our guide on how to build a home gym.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Canadian Health Measures Survey Overweight and Obesity Results
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Obesity Statistics in Canada
- Statistics Canada: Weighing the Data on Obesity
- Statistics Canada: Overweight and Obese Adults Health Fact Sheet
- Trends in Obesity Among Canadian Adults
- CMAJ Open: Trends in Obesity Across Canada
- Obesity in Adults: A Clinical Practice Guideline
- Modeling the Cost of Inaction in Treating Obesity in Canada
- CDC: Obesity and Severe Obesity Prevalence in US Adults
- OECD: Health at a Glance, Canada Country Note
- ParticipACTION: Report Card on Physical Activity for Adults
- Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute: Physical Activity Levels
- Global Trends in Insufficient Physical Activity
- Diabetes Canada: Diabetes in Canada Backgrounder
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Obesity in Canada
- Global News: Canadians Report Gaining Weight During the Pandemic
