Childhood overweight and obesity is a major public health issue in Australia. In 2017–18, 1 in 4 (25%) children and adolescents aged 2–17 were overweight or obese, and about 1 in 12 (8.2%) were obese. Overweight and obesity in children is associated with a significant risk of developing chronic diseases, as well as remaining overweight or obese as an adult, which further adds to the risk of disease.

Overweight and obesity is mainly caused by an energy imbalance (where too much energy is taken in through food and drink, and not enough energy is expended through physical activity). But many different interconnected factors drive this energy imbalance, making overweight and obesity complex to address.

This report aims to provide a resource to inform overweight and obesity prevention strategies and policies for children and their families. It looks at the individual and family factors in the home environment—where a child lives and grows—that affect childhood overweight and obesity. These factors, along with broader community and society influences, affect a child’s likelihood of becoming overweight or obese.