• Overview
  • Obesity prevalence
  • Population breakdowns
  • Drivers
  • Comorbidities
  • Economic impact
  • Policies
  • Contextual factors
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Obesity prevalence

Adults, 2022

Survey type:Measured
Age:18-69
Sample size:5503
Area covered:National
References:Palestine STEPS Survey 2022 Fact Sheet https://www.pniph.org/images/research/steps/fact-sheet_v3.2-palestine.pdf (Accessed 22.09.23)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Women, 2012

Survey type:Measured
Age:18-50
Sample size:357
Area covered:Gaza Strip
References:Prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity among women in the Gaza strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7275345/ (last accessed 06.06.2022)
Notes:Study population: mothers aged 18-50 who are not pregnant.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2010-2011

Survey type:Measured
Age:15-64
Sample size:6957
Area covered:National
References:Palestine STEPS Survey 2010-2011, available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/Palestine_FactSheet_2010-11.pdf (last accessed 19.10.20)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Children, 2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:6-12
Sample size:1320
Area covered:Regional
References:Al-Lahham, S., Jaradat, N., Altamimi, M. et al. Prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity among Palestinian school-age children and the associated risk factors: a cross sectional study. BMC Pediatr 19, 483 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-019-1842-7
Notes:Region: Nablus
Cutoffs:CDC

Children, 2015

Survey type:Measured
Age:5-16
Sample size:1500
Area covered:National
References:Massad et al. 2016. Double Burden of Undernutrition and Obesity in Palestinian Schoolchildren:A Cross-Sectional Study. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. 37(2). pp. 144-152.
Notes:WHO cut-offs used.
Cutoffs:WHO

Overweight/obesity by education

Women, 2012

Survey type:Measured
Age:18-50
Sample size:357
Area covered:Gaza Strip
References:Prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity among women in the Gaza strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7275345/ (last accessed 06.06.2022)
Notes:Study population: mothers aged 18-50 who are not pregnant.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Children, 2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:6-12
Sample size:1320
Area covered:Nablus
References:Prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity among Palestinian school-age children and the associated risk factors: a cross sectional study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6902423/ (last accessed 06.06.2022)
Notes:Maternal education level
Cutoffs:CDC

Children, 2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:6-12
Sample size:1320
Area covered:Nablus
References:Prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity among Palestinian school-age children and the associated risk factors: a cross sectional study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6902423/ (last accessed 06.06.2022)
Notes:Paternal education level
Cutoffs:CDC

Overweight/obesity by age

Women, 2012

Survey type:Measured
Sample size:357
Area covered:National
References:El Kishawi, R.R, Soo, K.L, Abed, Y.A, and Wan Muda, W.A.M. 2014. Obesity and overweight: prevalence and associated socio demographic factors among mothers in three different areas in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study. BMC Obesity 1(7). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2052-9538-1-7.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Women, 2012

Survey type:Measured
Sample size:357
Area covered:Gaza Strip
References:Prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity among women in the Gaza strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7275345/ (last accessed 06.06.2022)
Notes:Study population: mothers aged 18-50 who are not pregnant.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Overweight/obesity by region

Women, 2012

Survey type:Measured
Age:18-50
Sample size:357
Area covered:National
References:El Kishawi, R.R, Soo, K.L, Abed, Y.A, and Wan Muda, W.A.M. 2014. Obesity and overweight: prevalence and associated socio demographic factors among mothers in three different areas in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study. BMC Obesity 1(7). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2052-9538-1-7.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Overweight/obesity by socio-economic group

Women, 2012

Survey type:Measured
Age:18-50
Sample size:357
Area covered:Gaza Strip
References:Prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity among women in the Gaza strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7275345/ (last accessed 06.06.2022)
Notes:Study population: mothers aged 18-50 who are not pregnant.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Average daily frequency of carbonated soft drink consumption

Children, 2009-2015

Survey type:Measured
Age:12-17
References:Beal et al. (2019). Global Patterns of Adolescent Fruit, Vegetable, Carbonated Soft Drink, and Fast-food consumption: A meta-analysis of global school-based student health surveys. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572119848287 sourced from Food Systems Dashboard http://www.foodsystemsdashboard.org/food-system

Estimated per capita fruit intake

Adults, 2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:25+
References:Global Burden of Disease, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation http://ghdx.healthdata.org/
Definitions:Estimated per-capita fruit intake (g/day)

Prevalence of less than daily fruit consumption

Children, 2008-2015

Survey type:Measured
Age:12-17
References:Global School-based Student Health Surveys. Beal et al (2019). Global Patterns of Adolescent Fruit, Vegetable, Carbonated Soft Drink, and Fast-food consumption: A meta-analysis of global school-based student health surveys. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572119848287. Sourced from Food Systems Dashboard http://www.foodsystemsdashboard.org/food-system
Definitions:Prevalence of less-than-daily fruit consumption (% less-than-daily fruit consumption)

Prevalence of less than daily vegetable consumption

Children, 2008-2015

Survey type:Measured
Age:12-17
References:Beal et al. (2019). Global Patterns of Adolescent Fruit, Vegetable, Carbonated Soft Drink, and Fast-food consumption: A meta-analysis of global school-based student health surveys. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572119848287 sourced from Food Systems Dashboard http://www.foodsystemsdashboard.org/food-system
Definitions:Prevalence of less-than-daily vegetable consumption (% less-than-daily vegetable consumption)

Average weekly frequency of fast food consumption

Children, 2009-2015

Age:12-17
References:Beal et al. (2019). Global Patterns of Adolescent Fruit, Vegetable, Carbonated Soft Drink, and Fast-food consumption: A meta-analysis of global school-based student health surveys. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572119848287 sourced from Food Systems Dashboard http://www.foodsystemsdashboard.org/food-system

Estimated per-capita processed meat intake

Adults, 2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:25+
References:Global Burden of Disease, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation http://ghdx.healthdata.org/
Definitions:Estimated per-capita processed meat intake (g per day)

Estimated per capita whole grains intake

Adults, 2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:25+
References:Global Burden of Disease, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation http://ghdx.healthdata.org/
Definitions:Estimated per-capita whole grains intake (g/day)

Diabetes prevalence

Adults, 2019

Age:20-79
References:Reproduced with kind permission International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 9th edn. Brussels,Belgium: 2019. Available at: https://www.diabetesatlas.org
Definitions:Diabetes age-adjusted comparative prevalence (%).

Economic impact of overweight and obesity

Country comparisons

You can choose to compare this country’s data with the data for up to four other countries.

Policies, Interventions and Actions

Mandatory measures to reduce sodium in bread

There is a mandatory limit on salt in bread of —0.9 g/100 g as of 2019. There are targets for this to reduce in as follows 2021—0.8 g/100 g, 2022—0.7 g/100 g, 2023—0.6 g/100 g.

Categories:Evidence of Nutritional or Health Strategy/ Guidelines/Policy/Action plan
Year(s):2019 (ongoing)
Target age group:Adults and children
Organisation:Palestine Standards Institution
Find out more:extranet.who.int
Linked document:Download linked document

No actions could be found for the above criteria.

Contextual factors

Disclaimer: These contextual factors should be interpreted with care. Results are updated as regularly as possible and use very specific criteria. The criteria used and full definitions are available for download at the bottom of this page.

Tap on a tick to find out more about policies influencing this factor.

Labelling

Is there mandatory nutrition labelling?Absent
Front-of-package labelling?Absent
Back-of-pack nutrition declaration?Absent
Color coding?Absent
Warning label?Absent

Regulation and marketing

Are there fiscal policies on unhealthy products?Absent
Tax on unhealthy foods?Absent
Tax on unhealthy drinks?Absent
Are there fiscal policies on healthy products?Absent
Subsidy on fruits?Absent
Subsidy on vegetables?Absent
Subsidy on other healthy products?Absent
Mandatory limit or ban of trans fat (all settings)?Absent
Mandatory limit of trans fats in place (all settings)? Absent
Ban on trans-fats or phos in place (all settings)? Absent
Are there any mandatory policies/marketing restrictions on the promotion of unhealthy food/drinks to children?Absent
Mandatory restriction on broadcast media?Absent
Mandatory restriction on non-broadcast media?Absent
Voluntary policies/marketing restrictions on the promotion of unhealthy food/drinks to children?Absent
Are there mandatory standards for food in schools?Absent
Are there any mandatory nutrient limits in any manufactured food products?Present
Nutrition standards for public sector procurement?Absent

Political will and support

National obesity strategy or nutrition and physical activity national strategy?Absent
National obesity strategy?Absent
National childhood obesity strategy?Absent
Comprehensive nutrition strategy?Present
Comprehensive physical activity strategy?Absent
Evidence-based dietary guidelines and/or RDAs?Absent
National target(s) on reducing obesity?Absent
Guidelines/policy on obesity treatment?Absent
Promotion of breastfeeding?Unknown

Monitoring and surveillance

Monitoring of the prevalence and incidence for the main obesity-related NCDs and risk factors?Present
Within 5 years?Absent

Governance and resource

Multi-sectoral national co-ordination mechanism for obesity or nutrition (including obesity)?Absent

Key

Present
Present (voluntary)
Incoming
Absent
Unknown

Last updated September 13, 2022

See more policies here

Download contextual factors as a PDF Contextual factors definitions

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