2 in 3 Canadians are overweight or obese, StatCan data suggests – CTV
October 03, 2025
Most Canadian adults are obese and overweight, new Statistics Canada data suggests.
More than two-thirds, or 68 per cent, of Canadians aged 18 to 79 had a body mass index (BMI) that classified them as overweight or obese, StatCan said Thursday. The government agency said the finding was based on the period from 2022 to 2024.
This was an increase from 60 per cent before the COVID-19 pandemic, between 2016 and 2019, StatCan found.
The results are based on new data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey.
“This is in line with research suggesting that pandemic-related changes in lifestyle, including reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behaviour, may have contributed to higher obesity levels in adults,” it goes on to say.
The survey also found that abdominal obesity was widespread. The condition refers to “excessive fat stored around the waist and stomach area,” according to StatCan. About half, or 49 per cent, of adults have a waist circumference above the Canadian thresholds tied to greater health risks, reads the statement.
Being overweight or obese increases the risks of developing certain cancers, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and other serious health problems, according to StatCan.
