Snapshot
- Obesity, a modern epidemic, has tripled worldwide since 1975, with 13% of adults obese and 39% overweight, linked to health issues like diabetes and heart disease.
- Pacific island nations dominate the top obese countries, with Nauru leading at 61% obesity; factors include dietary changes, fast food prevalence, and possible genetic predispositions.
- The least obese countries, like Madagascar, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Japan, have low average BMIs due to healthy diets or, conversely, issues like famine and poverty.
Obesity is a growing global concern, with several countries facing alarmingly high rates. Explore the top 10 countries with the highest prevalence of obesity and gain insights into the factors contributing to this global health issue.
Obesity is a global health problem that is affecting people of all ages. It is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. Obesity is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of obesity has tripled since 1975. In 2016, over 1.9 billion adults were overweight and out of them 650 million people were obese.
What Is Obesity and Overweight?
WHO describes these terms as “Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m2).”
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines overweight and obesity for adults as follows:
- Overweight: A body mass index (BMI) of 25 or greater
- Obesity: A BMI of 30 or greater
BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. It provides a general indication of whether a person’s weight is healthy for their height. However, it is important to note that BMI is not a perfect measure of body fat and may not be accurate for all individuals. For example, athletes and people with very muscular builds may have a high BMI even though they are not overweight or obese.
Top 10 Most Obese Countries
| Country | Obesity Rate |
|---|---|
| American Samoa | 80.2% |
| Tonga | 77.1% |
| Wallis and Futuna | 70.4% |
| Cook Islands | 69.8% |
| Tokelau | 63.4% |
| Tuvalu | 62.2% |
| Niue | 61% |
| Nauru | 58.1% |
| Kiribati | 56.7% |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 45% |
The most obese country by average BMI is the Cook Islands, which has an average BMI of 32.9. Nauru follows with 32.5, then Niue with 32.4. Samoa and Tonga both have average BMIs of 32.2. The top ten most obese countries are Tuvalu (30.8), Kiribati (30.1), Saint Lucia (30.0), Micornesia (29.7), and Egypt (29.6).
In the realm of obesity, the Top 10 Most Obese Countries in 2024 share a commonality—they are predominantly situated in the South Pacific. Notably, eight of these nations boast adult populations with over 50% obesity rates. Nauru leads the list with a staggering 61%, followed by Cook Islands (55.9%) and Palau (55.3%). Other nations exceeding the 50% mark include the Marshall Islands (52.9%), Tuvalu (51.6%), and Niue (50%). Rounding off the list are Tonga (48.2%), Samoa (47.3%), Kiribati (46.0%), and Micronesia (45.8%). While Saint Lucia and Egypt stand as outliers on these lists, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes raises concerns in many of these nations. Various theories attempt to explain the susceptibility, including the influence of unhealthy fast food, the prevalence of frying in food preparation, and potential genetic predispositions leading to higher BMIs.
Top 10 Least Obese Countries in the World
When looking at average BMI, three countries tie for the least obese country in the world, with an average BMI of 21.1: Madagascar, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. Five other countries have average BMIs under 22: Timor-Leste (21.3), Burundi (21.6), Japan (21.8), China (21.9) and India (21.9). Bangladesh (22.0) and Burkina Faso (22.1) finish the list. Japan stands out in this compilation of countries with the Top 10 Most Obese Countries, a presence that might not be surprising given the national commitment to a healthy diet. The Japanese emphasize seafood, freshness, modest portions, and minimal added sugar or dairy fat—a lifestyle reflected in their impressive life expectancy, among the highest globally. In contrast, many other nations featured here grapple with famine and poverty, an unfortunate approach to achieving a low BMI. For a comprehensive overview of obesity rates and average BMIs worldwide, refer to the table below, including details about the Top 10 Most Obese Countries.
Notes:
– Listed rates define obesity as individuals with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kilograms per square meter of body area (BMI ≥30kg/m²) Credits: Worlpopulationreview
What country has the highest rate of obesity?
Nauru has the highest rate of obesity in the world. Nauru’s obesity rate is 61%.
Disclaimer:
The content presented in the blog post titled “Top 10 Most Obese Countries” is compiled from various trusted sources. For additional information and verification, readers are encouraged to refer to reputable sites such as WHO(world health organisation) and Worldpopulationreview.com. The inclusion of these sources aims to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided.