James of London: We in the US didn't see those crazy extremes either, until comparatively recently. Aussies should be very afraid. As for BMI - for individuals it's nonsense, but applied to millions of people it's very reliable. Many more people have extra mass because of fat than because of muscle.

James Pemberton, Minneapolis, USA

This is one contest we here in Oz didn't want to win. I'm hoping its just the way the statisics are presented. Ok we have some porkers, but to be fair I think more categories might be needed. Just % "obese" and "overweight" doesn't cover it. Just in case, today I brought myself a hampster wheel.

Daniel Torpy, Melbourne, Australia

Two thoughts: First, though on average this may be right, you never see in Australia those crazy extremes you see in the US. Second, BMI is a load of nonsense - hardly a reliable measure.

James, London, UK

Absolutely downright disgusting. C'mon Aussies give up the bloody American style fast food & get off ya lousy behinds. Exercise is not only good for weight control but cardiovascular and immune systems. And no, exercise is not flickin the remote for the telly or liftin a 6-pack of VB.

James Ryan, Los Angeles,

Judging from some of the almost obscene sights in our High Streets, Cheltenham and Gloucester here in the UK must be challenging Oz for the world title.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

In Hollywood movies, their shown as tough, lean and ready to take any challenge head on. Then they laugh it off and throw another shimp on the barby. What this shows is their a first world country with plenty to eat. Good for them. Given the choice id rather be plump then starving to death.

William, Atlanta, USA

Wow, I thought the US was the only country in the world with a huge weight problem.

Kristen, Atlanta, USA

Neat article. Really, I've been many places in the world where ecomony is "modernised" yet obesity is prevalent. The solution lies with the individual by addressing their own problem, not with stringent social policy.

Alexi, Brisbane, Australia

I am 5'11", I weigh about 105kgs.

According to BMIcharts etc, I am verging on morbidly obese, but.................I go to the gym 6 times a week, do not smoke, walk about 6 miles a day on top of my gym work and am (in the words of others) pretty rock solid. BMI = Bloody mindless information!

A Thorn, London,

So 'Home And Away' does not portray a true reflection of the body shape of the aussie population ??? I'm gutted !!

Rob, Milton Keynes,

must be the ex-pats returning to oz from the uk and unable to shake off the heathrow injection.... it's a killer!

eileen, London, UK

Lol, best weather in the world, beautiful beaches all around you, and plenty of stuff in between. And yet the Aussies are the fattest of the world?
That, my friend, is humor.

Anthony, Grand Rapids, MI, USA

I just like what Ive been telling the boys - Its not that I want to go out and pick up fat girls, it just there are only fat girls to pick up. Finally, vindication.

Keith , Perth, Australia

I think it's sad how obesessed people are with weight. Yeah, there's a lot of obese people these days...deal with it, it's their problem, not ours. I can't stand how people from the UK are always generalizing Americans as *ALL* being fat. It's ridiculous. They're so obsessed with it in the UK.

Kayla, Brooklyn, NY, USA

last time i was in australia i went to a place called colac and needing to use a toilet i decided to try mc donalds, no lie it was so packed i could not get in truogh the front doors for about 5 minutes, they are the new americans

nik, london, england

The sooner the Gov' look to the right direction in correcting the obese issue the better off we will all be.
The problem is the allowance of chemicals, high sugar & fats, preserviatives etc in so called foods that are purchased from supermarkets everyday. 90% of it s on the shelves is rubbish!!

Suz, Melbourne, Australia

BMI is a load of rubbish. Saying that someone with a BMI >25 is overweight doesn't take in to account muscle mass, I know quite a few Clearance Divers with a BMI >25, I wouldn't dare call them unfit to their face. Oh, and the US is still most obese, Aus is now the most overweight, big difference.

Coops, Sydney, Australia

Just moved away from Sydney after 2 1/2 yrs. this doesn't surprise me - their obsession with steaks and pies and fish-and-chips has to be seen to be believed. and don't believe all the climate rubbish - sydney gets twice londons rainfall and winters are freezing,.

Giles, Singapore, Singapore

Yup, there's a lot of overweight people round! I did a bit of number crunching and realised that if I ever achieved the weight I'm supposed to be, I'd have 4% body-fat - the absolute minimum to stay alive. Even professional athletes have between 5 and 11% fat. The ideal figure is literally that!

Ed, Cardiff,

When my sons & I were back in the UK at Christmas time ,we were walking down the high St in Wimbledon & both said to me how nice it was to see people of a normal size!

dominic brennan, sydney, australia

Obesity is a world wide problem and i would say a reflection of the fact that despite higher levels of materialism there is a lack of happiness and self esteem in our world.

If it doesn't change life expectancy will soon be going down and health systems will collapse under the strain (pun intended)

Alan Heaton, Frankfurt, Germany

LOL to Alex, seattle, USA, 'How dare those Aussies steal our title?! I'm going to McDonald's right now to help America reclaim the gold!'

Paul, London, UK

If I had the figure of the woman in the photo accompanying the story I would be ashamed to go about in a swim suit (though it seems the fat fetishists are intrigued... most of us find such obesity to be quite disgusting)

Steven, Detroit, USA

I only wish British women would spend less time being worried about the (non-existent) danger of anorexia and stopped talking about "real women" and "real sizes" and got themselves back down to size 6, it would end the sight of the grotesque parodies of womanhood dotting the streets of the UK.

Iain, Tokyo, London

The big Australian girl you showed in your photo to
accompany the article, was very attractive and very sexy, please
can we see more big shelia's.

Roger, Weymouth, England

LOL at Patricia from Fullham. I've seen how pretty the girls in Fulham are. ;-p

Mike, Sydney,

Uncouth, aesthetically displeasing, arrogant, car-dependent (that one is actually true).. It's amusing to read all the negative comments here about Australians like everyone is a genius! My guess is jealousy..

BJ, Zürich, Switzerland

How dare those Aussies steal our title?! I'm going to McDonald's right now to help America reclaim the gold!

Alex, seattle, USA

Jim's comments show: there's room for and appreciation for all body types. Why this constant need for scapegoats? The report ignores the health cost of increased sports injuries and dietary problems from all those obsessed with extreme exercise & extreme slimming. Target the food industry instead.

Jo, Devon, England

All the female Ozzie back packers I've ever met have been extremely good looking and loved the beer. Obviously the obese ones aren't allowed to travel! Maybe that's a policy other nations should follow, will do wonders for the tourist trade ;-)

Graeme, Edinburgh,

Sign of good times but hardly surprising for a place with lots of good food, good booze, plenty of sunshine. Not for nothing is it called the Lucky Country.
The Chinese equates being corpulent with prosperity! Mr. Rudd, the Sinologist must be beaming with delight at this new record.

SD Goh, PJ, Malaysia

Ha ha- Great Success
We have put the yanks into second place in the battle of the bulge! You should change your slogan to
"The home of the brave and the land of the second rater"
Doesn't stir the soul in the same way as the old one, but it does have a truth to it.

David, Sydney, Australia

Hopefully these findings will silence the hoards of Australians who criticise the British diet and lifestyle and arrogantly promote their own.

Patricia, Fulham, UK

The only nations that aren't getting fatter are probably starving...

Petra, Kalmar, Sweden

Vindication at last! The US gladly accepts the silver metal. Now lets shoot for bronze.

Jeff, Sacramento / CA, USA

I'd been considering emigrating to Australia until a recent visit, but the lifestyle is very Americanised and extremely car-dependent, so I'm not surprised by these findings. It's a shame as the climate makes outdoor sports, walking and cycling very amenable.

Ben Garside, Loughborough, UK

Where I come from Patrick we were taught if you have nothing nice to say, don't say it at all....

Georgina, Melbourne, Australia,

good. at least some scientific sense backing up my long-held suspicion that Australians are not only the most uncouth race on the planet ,but also the most aesthetically displeasing. After the Dutch.

Patrick, Hague, Netherlands

Well, 25% of 300 million will always be more than 26% of 21 million anyway.
A quarter of the population is a huge number though!!

Romain, Brighton, UK

Personally I think the girl in the photo you chose to illustrate this shock horror story has a rather gorgeous figure.

Jim, London,