This study presents a retrospective analysis and narrative synthesis of publicly available data on obesity prevention funding from the federal government and major federally-funded Australian research organisations.

 It finds that from 2013 to 2022, 186 funding allocations for obesity prevention in Australia were identified, totalling approximately A$778 million. The proportion of funding allocated to obesity prevention compared to the total annual budget of each funding source was relatively low:  National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) = 1.1%; Australian Research Council (ARC) = 0.2%; Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) = 0.8%; Federal Government = 0.1% (of health budget). 

The study concludes that the findings underscore the need for strategic and ongoing funding allocation to support obesity prevention research, implementation and sustainment of evidence-based obesity prevention initiatives in Australia.