Backholer, KathrynWalls, HelenMagliano, DiannaPeeters, Anna2015-12-100090-0036http://hdl.handle.net/1885/50465In 2008, The Council of Australian Governments set a target to increase by 5% the proportion of Australian adults at a healthy body weight by 2017, over a 2009 baseline. Target setting is a critical component of public health policy for obesity prevention; however, there is currently no context within which to choose such targets. We analyzed the changes in current weight gain that would be required to meet Australian targets. By using transition-based multistate life tables to project obesity prevalence, we found that meeting national healthy weight targets by 2017 will require a 75% reduction in current 5-yearweight gain. A reliable model of future body weight prevalence is critical to set, evaluate, and monitor national obesity targets.Keywords: adult; age; aged; article; Australia; body mass; health service; human; middle aged; obesity; organization; prevalence; theoretical model; weight gain; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Australia; Body Mass Index; Health Services Needs and Dema201010.2105/AJPH.2010.2003372016-02-24