Bangladesh
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *7/10This is a composite ‘obesity risk’ score (out of 10, the highest risk) based on obesity prevalence, rate of increase, likelihood of meeting the 2025 target, treatment indicator and childhood stunting levels.Childhood obesity risk *3/11This is a ‘risk score’ for each country’s likelihood of having or acquiring a major childhood obesity problem during the 2020s, taking account of current prevalence levels and risk for future obesity (based on stunting among infants, maternal obesity, maternal smoking, and breastfeeding rates).
Obesity prevalence
Trends over time
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The report card collates all the most-recent graphics for this country. If you would like to produce a custom report based on selected graphics, just tap the Add to custom PDF button below the graphics you would like to use.Population breakdowns
Drivers
Insufficient activity
Soft drink consumption
Fruit consumption
Vegetable consumption
Fast food consumption
Processed meat consumption
Grains consumption
Depression
Anxiety
Roots of obesity »
Like all chronic diseases, the root causes/drivers of obesity are complex. Select here to view 'other' root causes/drivers.Breastfeeding
Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-69 |
| Sample size: | 7985 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National STEPS Survey for Non-communicable Diseases Risk Factors in Bangladesh 2018. National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM) Mohakhali, Dhaka1212 Available at https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/770 (last accessed 05.10.2020) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2017-2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Sample size: | 23861 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), and ICF. 2020. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NIPORT and ICF https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR344/FR344.pdf (last accessed 10.08.22) |
| Notes: | 18328 (ever-married) women, 5533 Men. Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2014
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 16478 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Institute of Population Research and Training - NIPORT/Bangladesh, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International. 2016. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Dhaka, Bangladesh: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International.. http://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR311-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm (last accessed 11th April 2016) |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2011
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Sample size: | 17416 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Institute of Population Research and Training - NIPORT/Bangladesh, Mitra and Associates/Bangladesh, and ICF International. 2013. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Dhaka, Bangladesh: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International. |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2007
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 10021 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, and Macro International. 2008. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007: Key Findings. Calverton, Maryland, USA: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and Macro International. |
| Notes: | Other married women 15 - 49 years. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 1995-1996
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 3997 |
| References: | Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 |
| Notes: | The data from this paper was sourced from the Demographic Health Survey Programme https://dhsprogram.com/ Central Statistical Office and Macro International. Calverton, Maryland, USA |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2018-2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 10-19 |
| Sample size: | 9772 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Urmy, N.J., Hossain, M.M., Shamim, A.A., Khan, M.S.A., Hanif, A.A.M., Hasan, M., Akter, F., Mitra, D.K., Hossaine, M., Ullah, M.A. and Sarker, S.K., 2020. Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors Among Adolescent Boys and Girls in Bangladesh: Evidence From a National Survey. Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives, 11(6), pp.351-364. |
| Notes: | 4,907 boys and 4,865 girls NB. Combined child data estimated. These estimates were calculated by weighting male and female survey results. Weighting based on World Bank Population % total female 2019 (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS - accessed 21.10.20)' |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2014
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-17 |
| Sample size: | 2989 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2014-Bangladesh-fact-sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 24.11.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2009
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 6-15 |
| Sample size: | 10135 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Bulbul T and Hoque M. 2014. Prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight in Bangladesh: findings from a countrywide epidemiological study. BMC Pediatr. 1;14:86. |
| Notes: | Z score BMI cut-offs used |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
% Adults living with obesity, 1995-2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1995: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 2007: National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, and Macro International. 2008. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007: Key Findings. Calverton, Maryland, USA: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and Macro International. 2011: National Institute of Population Research and Training - NIPORT/Bangladesh, Mitra and Associates/Bangladesh, and ICF International. 2013. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Dhaka, Bangladesh: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International. 2014: National Institute of Population Research and Training - NIPORT/Bangladesh, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International. 2016. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Dhaka, Bangladesh: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International.. http://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR311-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm (last accessed 11th April 2016) 2017: National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), and ICF. 2020. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NIPORT and ICF https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR344/FR344.pdf (last accessed 10.08.22) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
% Adults living with overweight or obesity, 1995-2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1995: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 2007: National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, and Macro International. 2008. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007: Key Findings. Calverton, Maryland, USA: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and Macro International. 2011: National Institute of Population Research and Training - NIPORT/Bangladesh, Mitra and Associates/Bangladesh, and ICF International. 2013. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Dhaka, Bangladesh: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International. 2014: National Institute of Population Research and Training - NIPORT/Bangladesh, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International. 2016. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Dhaka, Bangladesh: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International.. http://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR311-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm (last accessed 11th April 2016) 2017: National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), and ICF. 2020. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NIPORT and ICF https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR344/FR344.pdf (last accessed 10.08.22) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
% Adults living with obesity, selected countries, 1976-2023
Men
| References: | 1976, 1981, 1986: Yoshiike N, Seino F, Tajima S, Arai Y, Kawano M, Furuhata T, Inoue S. Twenty-year changes in the prevalence of overweight in Japanese adults: The National Nutrition Survey 1976-95. Obesity Reviews 2002;3:183-190 1993: Solon FS. Nutrition related chronic diseases in the Philippines. Makati city, Philippines: Nutrition Center of the Philippines Report Series, vol 2, No.1, cited in Reference 53 1995, 1996: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 1998: Data provided by the Philippean Depatment of Health, Dr C. Barbu, data reanalysed by Dr Charmaine Duante. 2000: Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration. The burden of overweight and obesity in the Asia-Pacific region. Obesity Reviews 2007;8:191-196. 2001: SCN (2004). 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation. Nutrition for Improved Development Outcomes. Appendix 11 2002: Report of the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey. 2004. (In Chinese). Chinese Ministry of Public Health (CMPH). 2003: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/files/fnri%20files/nns/factsandfigures2003/anthropometric.pdf (last accessed June 14th 2011) 2004: Tonga STEPS Survey 2004 2005, 2013: Chang HC, Yang HC, Chang HY, et al. Morbid obesity in Taiwan: Prevalence, trends, associated social demographics, and lifestyle factors. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0169577. Published 2017 Feb 2. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169577 2006: Gerritsen S, Stefanogiannis N, Galloway Y, Devlin M, Templaton R and Yeh L. A portrait of health: key results of the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey. 2007: Mohamud WN, Musa KI, Khir AS, Ismail AA, Ismail IS, Kadir KA, Kamaruddin NA, Yaacob NA, Mustafa N, Ali O, Isa SH, Bebakar WM.Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adult Malaysians: an update. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2011;20(1):35-41. 2009: Yan, S., Li, J., Li, S., Zhang, B., Du, S., Gordon-Larsen, P., Adair, L. and Popkin, B. (2012), The expanding burden of cardiometabolic risk in China: the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Obesity Reviews. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2012.01016.x 2011, 2012: New Zealand Health Survey. https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/annual-update-key-results-2018-19-new-zealand-health-survey (last accessed 14.07.20) 2014: New Zealand Health Survey 2014/15. https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/annual-update-key-results-2014-15-new-zealand-health-survey (last accessed 16.12.2015) 2015: 2015 Philippine Anthropometric Survey. http://enutrition.fnri.dost.gov.ph/site/preview.php?xx=%20uploads/2015_ANTHROPOMETRIC_SURVEY.pdf 2016: Ministry of Health. 2018. Annual Data Explorer 2017/18: New Zealand Health Survey [Data File]. URL: https://minhealthnz.shinyapps.io/nz-health-survey-2017-18-annual-data-explorer/(last accessed 14th December 2017) 2017: Tonga STEPS Survey 2017 https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/713 (Last accessed 13.10.20) 2018: New Zealand Health Survey 2018-19. New Zealand Ministry of Health (https://minhealthnz.shinyapps.io/nz-health-survey-2018-19-annual-data-explorer/_w_b396d161/#!/key-indicators accessed 14.11.19) 2019: Institute for Public Health (IPH), National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia. 2020. National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019: Vol. I: NCDs – Non-Communicable Diseases: Risk Factors and other Health Problems 2020: Annual Update of New Zealand Health Survey 2020/2021 available at https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/annual-update-key-results-2020-21-new-zealand-health-survey Accessed 08.11.21. 2022: Australian National Health Survey 2022-2023. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/waist-circumference-and-bmi/2022#body-mass-index-bmi- (Accessed 03.01.2024) |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
Women
| References: | 1976, 1981, 1986: Yoshiike N, Seino F, Tajima S, Arai Y, Kawano M, Furuhata T, Inoue S. Twenty-year changes in the prevalence of overweight in Japanese adults: The National Nutrition Survey 1976-95. Obesity Reviews 2002;3:183-190 1993: Solon FS. Nutrition related chronic diseases in the Philippines. Makati city, Philippines: Nutrition Center of the Philippines Report Series, vol 2, No.1, cited in Reference 53 1995, 1996: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 1998: Data provided by the Philippean Depatment of Health, Dr C. Barbu, data reanalysed by Dr Charmaine Duante. 2000: Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration. The burden of overweight and obesity in the Asia-Pacific region. Obesity Reviews 2007;8:191-196. 2001: SCN (2004). 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation. Nutrition for Improved Development Outcomes. Appendix 11 2002: Report of the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey. 2004. (In Chinese). Chinese Ministry of Public Health (CMPH). 2003: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/files/fnri%20files/nns/factsandfigures2003/anthropometric.pdf (last accessed June 14th 2011) 2004: Tonga STEPS Survey 2004 2005, 2013: Chang HC, Yang HC, Chang HY, et al. Morbid obesity in Taiwan: Prevalence, trends, associated social demographics, and lifestyle factors. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0169577. Published 2017 Feb 2. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169577 2006: Gerritsen S, Stefanogiannis N, Galloway Y, Devlin M, Templaton R and Yeh L. A portrait of health: key results of the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey. 2007: Mohamud WN, Musa KI, Khir AS, Ismail AA, Ismail IS, Kadir KA, Kamaruddin NA, Yaacob NA, Mustafa N, Ali O, Isa SH, Bebakar WM.Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adult Malaysians: an update. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2011;20(1):35-41. 2009: Yan, S., Li, J., Li, S., Zhang, B., Du, S., Gordon-Larsen, P., Adair, L. and Popkin, B. (2012), The expanding burden of cardiometabolic risk in China: the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Obesity Reviews. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2012.01016.x 2011, 2012: New Zealand Health Survey. https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/annual-update-key-results-2018-19-new-zealand-health-survey (last accessed 14.07.20) 2014: New Zealand Health Survey 2014/15. https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/annual-update-key-results-2014-15-new-zealand-health-survey (last accessed 16.12.2015) 2015: 2015 Philippine Anthropometric Survey. http://enutrition.fnri.dost.gov.ph/site/preview.php?xx=%20uploads/2015_ANTHROPOMETRIC_SURVEY.pdf 2016: Ministry of Health. 2018. Annual Data Explorer 2017/18: New Zealand Health Survey [Data File]. URL: https://minhealthnz.shinyapps.io/nz-health-survey-2017-18-annual-data-explorer/(last accessed 14th December 2017) 2017: Tonga STEPS Survey 2017 https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/713 (Last accessed 13.10.20) 2018: New Zealand Health Survey 2018-19. New Zealand Ministry of Health (https://minhealthnz.shinyapps.io/nz-health-survey-2018-19-annual-data-explorer/_w_b396d161/#!/key-indicators accessed 14.11.19) 2019: Institute for Public Health (IPH), National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia. 2020. National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019: Vol. I: NCDs – Non-Communicable Diseases: Risk Factors and other Health Problems 2020: Annual Update of New Zealand Health Survey 2020/2021 available at https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/annual-update-key-results-2020-21-new-zealand-health-survey Accessed 08.11.21. 2022: Australian National Health Survey 2022-2023. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/waist-circumference-and-bmi/2022#body-mass-index-bmi- (Accessed 03.01.2024) |
| Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please check with original data sources for methodologies used. | |
