Highlights

• On average over a two-year period, both men and women gain weight, however this rate of weight gain has slowed down significantly in recent years.

• Over an eight-year period, the average weight gain of adults aged 18 to 56 in 1996/1997 was 4.01 kg for men and 3.44 kg for women.

• Weight gain is by far the most prevalent pattern of weight change, with about half of men and women gaining weight over any two year interval. About 22% of men and women maintained a stable weight, while around a third lost weight over any two year period.

• The proportion of men losing weight has significantly increased from 27% in 1998/1999 to 2000/2001, to 32% in 2002/2003 to 2004/2005. This is mirrored by a decrease in the proportion of men gaining weight, from 51% in 1998/1999 to 2000/2001, to 44% in 2002/2003 to 2004/2005.

• Although the percentage of men gaining weight has decreased, the mean amount of weight gained among those who did gain weight significantly increased, from 4.56 kg in 1996/1997 to 1998/1999 to 4.99 kg in 2002/2003 to 2004/2005 for men.