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Obesity rates are on the up and up across the entire world. While this is not a new trend, it is certainly concerning how much worse the issue has gotten over the last several decades. Overconsumption of sugar, processed foods, and other dietary changes that have distanced populations from their traditional diets is causing a cohort of chronic conditions that are actually reducing life expectancy rates for many nations around the world.
The top 10 most obese countries in the world will surprise you. Did your country make the list? Click on to find out.
Waistline size is not about aesthetics. Governments keep track of the population's body weight as it's an indicator of rates of obesity.
Being overweight is often caused by genetic conditions, poor nutritional choices, or even cultural factors that can contribute.
Obesity is linked to various health conditions, such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, even certain kinds of cancers.
According to research on obesity, it is also the leading cause of preventable death in the world. Despite this, obesity rates continue to rise.
Obesity has actually been considered an epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1997. Pictured is a weight-loss camp in China.
Around the world, nearly 40% of the population is considered overweight, while approximately 15% are considered to be obese.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is by far from being a perfect measurement, but it is what the majority of the world uses as a standard to understand a person’s weight in proportion with their height.
Regions across the world have launched a number of campaigns to try to control obesity rates. From nutritional campaigns in the US to contests to win gold in the UAE, there is no shortage of creativity. Pictured is the contest winner in the UAE, winning one gram of gold for every kilogram lost.
Type 2 diabetes is a huge concern for countries around the world attempting to address health concerns related to weight.
When looking at the most obese countries in the world, we use the BMI indicator as the key measurement. Can you guess the population with the most obese adults?
According to the Global Nutrition Report, the Bahamas is “off course” to fulfill its global nutrition targets. Diabetes affects more than 15% of the population.
Nearly 48% of the population in the Bahamas is obese. This is particularly prevalent among women and girls, of which over 55% are reportedly obese.
French Polynesia occupies the ninth spot of the most obese countries in the world. Over 80% of adults are overweight, according to the World Health Organization.
In terms of obesity, over 48% of the population is reportedly obese. The country experienced a 10% spike of obesity rates from 2010-2020 alone.
The tiny island country of Samoa only has a population of approximately 200,000 people, yet it occupies the eighth place in most obese countries in the world.
According to the Yale School of Public Health, Samoan children are at high-risk of developing diabetes. Approximately 62% of the population is considered to be obese.
The seventh most obese nation in the world is Tuvalu. The leading cause of death is diabetes and heart diseases across all ages and genders.
The low life expectancy rate in Tuvalu, which is 64 years, is largely attributed to the nation’s increasing waistlines, with nearly 64% of the country reported to be obese.
The Pacific Island nation of Niue is the sixth most obese nation in the world. This is largely due to dependence on imported, processes foods that are high in fat and sodium.
Although the population of the island is just under 2,000, approximately 67% of the country’s population is reportedly obese.
The Cook Islands hold the fifth-highest obesity rate in the world. The nation’s population suffers from a 68% obesity rate.
The nation, consisting of 15 islands in the South Pacific, has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the world, with 30% of children considered to be obese.
Tokelau has the fourth-highest obesity rate in the world, with reports noting that 69% of its population is obese. Like many island nations, environmental factors have caused an increased reliance on imported foods, which has greatly impacted the population’s nutrition.
The nation of approximately 2,600 people is struggling to manage the uptick of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases tied to obesity.
The nation of Nauru suffers from a 70% obesity rate. According to data, 71% of women and 70% of men on the tiny Micronesian island are obese, making it the nation with the third-highest obesity rate in the world.
The nation’s population is just short of 12,000 and has an average body weight of 200 lbs (100 kg). Sudden changes to the Nauruan diet, largely tied to colonial trade links, led the nation’s population to consume a lot more processed foods.
The second-most obese nation in the world is Tonga. Approximately 70% of the nation’s population is obese, with 61% of men and 79% of women reported as such.
About 40% of the population is suffering from type 2 diabetes. The island’s traditional diet is largely based on fish and root vegetables, but a larger reliance on imported food has greatly impacted the islanders’ health.
American Samoa, a US territory in the South Pacific, is the most obese nation in the world. Nearly 76% of the population is reportedly obese. Just over 80% of women and 70% of men are considered to be obese on the island.
There are a great deal of Pacific Island nations on this list. A BBC report notes that there is some evidence that there is a genetic reasoning behind this, as Pacific Island nations had to go long periods without access to food at times, therefore, their bodies are more pre-conditioned to hold on to fats.
Sources: (Global Nutrition Report) (World Health Organization) (National Institutes of Health) (Refworld) (UNICEF) (BBC) (World Population Review)
See also: Increasing rates of certain cancers in younger generations
Heavy hitters: countries with the biggest waistlines
Does your country make the list?
HEALTH Obesity
Obesity rates are on the up and up across the entire world. While this is not a new trend, it is certainly concerning how much worse the issue has gotten over the last several decades. Overconsumption of sugar, processed foods, and other dietary changes that have distanced populations from their traditional diets is causing a cohort of chronic conditions that are actually reducing life expectancy rates for many nations around the world.
The top 10 most obese countries in the world will surprise you. Did your country make the list? Click on to find out.