HealthcareJul 17, 2024
🏝️ Small Island Nations Have the Highest Obesity Rates in the World
@visualcapitalist
What We’re Showing
A list of countries ranked by their adult (18+) obesity rates, measured through Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations. Data is sourced from the World Health Organization (2022).
Key Takeaways
- Small island nations and territories in the Pacific have some of the highest obesity rates in the world
- A change in diet in the 20th century—relying on imported, processed foods—is generally regarded as the cause
- These countries also see high rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes
- It’s worth noting that obesity rates are based on BMI values, which do not account for body types with larger bone and muscle mass
- Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. are the only countries with a population greater than 1 million on this list
Dataset
| Rank | Country | % of Obese Adults (above 18) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇹🇴 Tonga | 72% |
| 2 | 🇳🇷 Nauru | 70% |
| 3 | 🇨🇰 Cook Islands | 69% |
| 4 | 🇳🇺 Niue | 67% |
| 5 | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | 64% |
| 6 | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 62% |
| 7 | 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 47% |
| 8 | 🇫🇲 Micronesia | 47% |
| 9 | 🇰🇮 Kiribati | 46% |
| 10 | 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands | 46% |
| 11 | 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts & Nevis | 46% |
| 12 | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 44% |
| 13 | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 43% |
| 14 | 🇧🇿 Belize | 42% |
| 15 | 🇺🇸 U.S. | 42% |
| N/A | 🌍 World | 16% |
Data sources
Figures rounded. Adult obesity measured by a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher.
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