Belize
Upper-middle income
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *8/10This 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 *7.5/11This 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).
Report cards
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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
Unaffordable diet
Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2017
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20-55 |
| Sample size: | 7506 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Lin JJ, Morey F, Wu HY, Yang JY, Peng YS, Mendez D, Chebat M. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease in Belize: A Population-based Survey. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2021 Jul 17;1:100013. doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2021.100013. PMID: 36776754; PMCID: PMC9903977. |
| Notes: | Obesity data only |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2003-2006
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20+ |
| Sample size: | 1622 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | The Central America Diabetes Initiative (CAMDI): Survey of Diabetes, Hypertension and Chronic Disease Risk Factors. Belize, San José, San Salvador, Guatemala City, Managua and Tegucigalpa Washington, D.C.: PAHO, 2011 |
| 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
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 6-12 |
| Sample size: | 588 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Kirin Rambaran, Surujpal Teelucksingh, Sesh Gowrie Sankar, Michael Boyne, Godfrey Xuereb, Ambra Giorgetti & Michael B. Zimmermann (2020) High prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in ten Caribbean countries: 2018 cross-sectional data and a narrative review of trends in Trinidad and Tobago, Child and Adolescent Obesity, DOI: 10.1080/2574254X.2020.1847632 |
| Notes: | Not nationally representative but a cluster sampling strategy was used to obtain data across the varying geographical and socioeconomic areas of the country. Students with a history of major medical illnesses (such as malignancy, diabetes mellitus, asthma, thyroid disease, haemoglobinopathies, or congenital genetic disorders), or those taking chronic medications for such diseases were excluded from the study. Note that this study has a small sample size. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2011
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-15 |
| Sample size: | 2122 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2011_GSHS_FS_Belize.pdf?ua=1 (available at 25.11.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
0-5 years, 2015-2016
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2397 |
| References: | MICS: Belize Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 2015-2016, Final Report. Belmopan, Belize: Statistical Institute of Belize and UNICEF Belize. |
| Notes: | UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Overweight (Survey Estimates), May 2023, New York. For more information about the methodology, please consult https://data.unicef.org/resources/jme-2023-country-consultations/ Percentage of children under 5 years of age falling above 2 standard deviations (moderate and severe) from the median weight-for-height of the reference population. |
| Definitions: | =>+2SD |
0-5 years, 2015-2016
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2397 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Statistical Institute of Belize and UNICEF Belize. 2017. Belize Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 2015-2016, Final Report. Belmopan, Belize: Statistical Institute of Belize and UNICEF Belize. https://www.unicef.org/belize/media/936/file/Multiple%20indicator%20cluster%20survey.pdf (Accessed 15.06.21) |
| Notes: | Infants. |
| Definitions: | Weight for Height. Overweight or obesity = >2SD |
| Cutoffs: | Other |
0-5 years, 2011
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 1768 |
| References: | MICS: Belize multiple indicator cluster survey 2011 (MICS). Belize city, Belize: SIB and UNICEF, 2012 |
| Notes: | UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Overweight (Survey Estimates), May 2023, New York. For more information about the methodology, please consult https://data.unicef.org/resources/jme-2023-country-consultations/ Percentage of children under 5 years of age falling above 2 standard deviations (moderate and severe) from the median weight-for-height of the reference population. |
| Definitions: | =>+2SD |
0-5 years, 2006
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 690 |
| References: | MICS: Multiple indicator cluster survey Belize, 2006. UNICEF |
| Notes: | UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Overweight (Survey Estimates), May 2023, New York. For more information about the methodology, please consult https://data.unicef.org/resources/jme-2023-country-consultations/ Percentage of children under 5 years of age falling above 2 standard deviations (moderate and severe) from the median weight-for-height of the reference population. |
| Definitions: | =>+2SD |
