New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that while 62% of the country's population was overweight during 2007-08, up from 54% the previous year, an increasing number of people are spending more money on physical fitness.
The ABS figures show that 34% of men and 21% of women from "disadvantaged" areas are overweight, with 39% of men and 23% of women from richer areas overweight.
But new IBISWorld figures show that the fitness industry is growing, with the number of people employed as instructors and personal trainers jumping from 12,000 in 2001 to 18,000 in 2003. About 1.7 million Australians now use a gym, while revenue from gyms and fitness centres recorded $475 million in 2003-04, and is expected to reach $882.5 million in 2008-09.
"In a culture that increasingly values a prescribed notion of physical beauty, there is mounting pressure on Australians to do something about our appalling obesity crisis, which means we're prepared to spend an increasing proportion of our disposable income trying to slim down," said IBISWorld general manger Robert Bryant in a statement.
"Despite the global financial crisis, this financial year, Australians will spend $721.1 million on a combination of counselling services, low-calorie foods and shakes, diet cookbooks, weight loss guides, supplements and slimming surgery - up from $512 million in 2004."
Bryant said that the company expects the weight loss industry to grow by 2.3% during the year, and by 5.9% per year until 2014 as those looking to lose weight look at cheaper surgery and different technologies.
