Two in three Australian adults are living with overweight or obesity. Yet conversations about weight remain heavily stigmatised, avoided by individuals, skirted around by families, and often unaddressed in clinical settings.

A new national report, Let's Talk About Weight, conducted by METIS Healthcare Research and commissioned by Lilly Australia, surveyed more than 1,000 Australians living with overweight or obesity to understand the impact of weight on people’s lives, and why conversations about it remain so difficult. To create the movement this topic deserves, we brought together a leading panel of voices to discuss what these findings mean for our community.

The impact of weight

Among Australians surveyed, weight affected physical health, mental wellbeing, relationships, careers, and everyday enjoyment of life.

Seventy-one per cent said it impacted their physical health. Fifty-nine percent said it affected their mental wellbeing.

Perhaps most striking: almost half had delayed major life milestones, like taking a bucket list trip, meeting a partner, applying for a promotion – all because of their weight. For many, life had genuinely been put on hold.

The research also highlighted the significant role stigma and judgement play:

• Eighty-four per cent of Australians surveyed had encountered judgement, dismissal, or unsolicited advice when trying to discuss their weight or health goals.
• Sixty per cent said they felt judged by both society and their doctors.
• Sixty two percent blamed themselves for struggling to manage their weight.

The gap between what the science shows and what people believe about themselves speaks to the enduring power of stigma, and the need to change how weight is talked about in Australia.

A room that changed perspectives

To mark the launch of the Let's Talk About Weight report, a panel of leading voices came together to discuss what the findings meant. Moderated by journalist and health advocate Shelly Horton, the event brought together GP Dr Steven Lu, habit expert Dr Gina Cleo, nutrition scientist Dr Joanna McMillan, and entertainer Casey Donovan – who has spoken openly about her own experience with weight. Across different disciplines and lived experiences, panellists agreed on one thing: the way Australians talk about weight needs to change.

Overcoming stigma and starting the conversation

One of the most important findings in the report was the gap between how people understand their weight and what science tells us. Biological factors are often working against people living with obesity, even as they try their hardest. When the body senses weight loss, it can increase hunger, reduce feelings of fullness and slow metabolism, making it harder to lose weight and even harder to keep it off. When people understand that weight is a complex, chronic disease, shaped by biology, lifestyle, and environment, not just choices, the conversation can shift from blame to support.

Australians living with overweight or obesity are clear about where they want that support to come from, with the Let's Talk About Weight report highlighting the critical role healthcare professionals play in weight conversations. Almost half of Australians surveyed said their doctor is the one person they'd want an honest, judgement-free conversation with. Additionally, the single biggest driver for taking action was encouragement and support from a GP.

The Let's Talk About Weight report findings are a reminder that weight is rarely simple, and that the people living with obesity deserve conversations that reflect its complexity. With the right support, from healthcare professionals, from families, and from each other, those conversations are possible.

References:

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey 2022 – Table 2. Summary health characteristics, by states and territories. Reviewed December 15 2023. Available at: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/national-health-survey/2022/NHSDC02.xlsx [Accessed March 2026].
2. ‘Let’s Talk About Weight, 2025’. METIS Healthcare Research, commissioned by Lilly Australia.