A new survey has found that more than half of Australians these days have become overweight or obese.

The study, released on Monday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), pointed out that obesity rates in adults continue to grow, on a ratio of two out of three Australian adults. As for kids, one in every four are overweight or obese.

Results from the 2011-12 Australian health survey showed 63 per cent of adult Australian population was fat, with the average Australian man expanding 3.9 kilogrammes and the average Australian woman, by 4.1 kilogrammes over the past four years.

"The proportion of overweight adult Australians has increased by more than two percentage points, meaning that nearly two-thirds of the population are now classified as overweight or obese," ABS first assistant statistician Dr Paul Jelfs said in a statement.

In 1995, the number of overweight Australians was placed at 56.3 per cent. In 2007-08, it was 61.2 per cent.

Between the battle of the sexes, it is the male population that is struggling most with the bulge, with more than 70 per cent weighing in too heavy compared to 56 per cent of the female population.

The new survey contradicts the positive gains reflected in the decreased number of Australian smokers and alcoholics.

"Smoking rates are down across all age groups, particularly for people aged under 45," Mr Jelfs said, noting that daily Australian smokers fell by 3 per cent to 16 per cent, versus the 19 per cent in 2007-08.

About 19.5 per cent of Australians exceeded guidelines by drinking more than two standard drinks a day, down from 21 per cent.

ABS described the latest survey as the "largest check-up on the nation's health ever undertaken."

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