Bulgaria
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- 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).
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
Sugar consumption
Soft drink consumption
Confectionery consumption
Sweet/savoury snack consumption
Fruit consumption
Vegetable 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.Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2019
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Eurostat 2019. Data available at https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 09.08.21) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2019-2020
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 6410 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | EHIS 2019 Preliminary Results Bulgaria. Available at: https://www.nsi.bg/en/content/18648/preliminary-data. Last accessed: 02.06.21. |
| 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
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | EUROSTAT Database http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_hch10&lang=en |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2014
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Eurostat Database:http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1e&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2004
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20+ |
| Sample size: | 1031 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | S. Petrova, K. Angelova (2006) Scientific background of Food-Based Dietary Guidelines for Bulgarians. Advances in Bulgarian Science, 4, pp.19 - 33. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2000-2003
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1994
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 25-74 |
| Sample size: | 1996 |
| References: | WHO Infobase Ref:Vasilevski N, Tulevski B, Vukov M, Ilieva P, Marinova P, Iordaiov L. Risk factors and health of the population aged 25-64 years in the demonstration area Lovech of the Programme CINDI-Bulgaria. 1998 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2018-2020
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 7 |
| Sample size: | 3068 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Report on the fifth round of data collection, 2018–2020: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 2015-2017
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 7 |
| Sample size: | 3,386 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) Report on the fourth round of data collection, 2015–2017 (2021). Available at: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/nutrition/activities/who-european-childhood-obesity-surveillance-initiative-cosi/cosi-publications/who-european-childhood-obesity-surveillance-initiative-cosi-report-on-the-fourth-round-of-data-collection,-20152017-2021. Accessed 19.05.21. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2011
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 6-9 |
| Sample size: | 4360 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Rangelova L, Petrova S, Konstantinova M, Duleva V, Dimitrov P. Overweight and obesity prevalence in Bulgarian schoolchildren: Acomparison between two international standards. International Journal of Biomedical And Advance Research (2014) ISSN: 2229-3809 (Online) |
| Notes: | 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: | IOTF |
Children, 2007-2008
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 7 |
| Sample size: | 2917 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Lissner L, Wijnhoven TMA, Mehlig K, et al. Socioeconomic inequalities in childhood overweight: heterogeneity across five countries in the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI–2008). International Journal of Obesity (2005). 2016;40(5):796-802. doi:10.1038/ijo.2016.12. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2007-2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 7 |
| Sample size: | 5848 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Spinelli et al (2019). 'Childhood Severe Obesity in Europe', Obes Facts.12, pp. 244–258. (Data from COSI round 1-3) |
| Notes: | NOTE - this data is from COSI round I and III (2007 - 2013) |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2004
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-17 |
| Sample size: | 1326 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Petrova S. (2005). Current problems in nutrition of children in Bulgaria. GP News, 12: 5 - 8. |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Boys, 2000
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 7-12 |
| Sample size: | 1202 |
| References: | Personal communication from Maria Konstantinova |
| Definitions: | 90/97th centile cut off |
| Cutoffs: | Other |
Children, 1998
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 7-17 |
| Sample size: | 6655 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Petrova S, Vatralova Kr, Ivanova L, et al. (2001). National Survey of Dietary and Nutritional Status of schoolchildren in Bulgaria. Anthropometric Nutritional status of schoolchildren aged 7 - 10 years. Hygiene and Public Health, vol XIV in press. (2) Petrova S, Vatralova Kr, Ivanova L, et al. (2001). National Survey of Dietary and Nutritional Status of schoolchildren in Bulgaria. Anthropometric Nutritional status of schoolchildren aged 10 - 18 years. Hygiene and Public Health, vol XIV. |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
% Children living with overweight or obesity, 2007-2020
Girls
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 2007: Lissner L, Wijnhoven TMA, Mehlig K, et al. Socioeconomic inequalities in childhood overweight: heterogeneity across five countries in the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI–2008). International Journal of Obesity (2005). 2016;40(5):796-802. doi:10.1038/ijo.2016.12. 2015: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) Report on the fourth round of data collection, 2015–2017 (2021). Available at: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/nutrition/activities/who-european-childhood-obesity-surveillance-initiative-cosi/cosi-publications/who-european-childhood-obesity-surveillance-initiative-cosi-report-on-the-fourth-round-of-data-collection,-20152017-2021. Accessed 19.05.21. 2018: Report on the fifth round of data collection, 2018–2020: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
| 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. | |
Boys
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 2007: Lissner L, Wijnhoven TMA, Mehlig K, et al. Socioeconomic inequalities in childhood overweight: heterogeneity across five countries in the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI–2008). International Journal of Obesity (2005). 2016;40(5):796-802. doi:10.1038/ijo.2016.12. 2015: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) Report on the fourth round of data collection, 2015–2017 (2021). Available at: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/nutrition/activities/who-european-childhood-obesity-surveillance-initiative-cosi/cosi-publications/who-european-childhood-obesity-surveillance-initiative-cosi-report-on-the-fourth-round-of-data-collection,-20152017-2021. Accessed 19.05.21. 2018: Report on the fifth round of data collection, 2018–2020: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
| 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, 2000-2019
Men
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2000: Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21) 2014: Eurostat Database:http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1e&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20) 2019: Eurostat 2019. Data available at https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 09.08.21) |
| 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
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2000: Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21) 2014: Eurostat Database:http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1e&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20) 2019: Eurostat 2019. Data available at https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 09.08.21) |
| 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, 2000-2019
Men
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21) |
| 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
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21) |
| 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. | |
