Cameroon
Lower-middle income
- 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 *4.5/11This 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
Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Women, 2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 6088 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Deomgraphic Health Survey, Cameroon, 2018 (in french) |
| Notes: | Includes ever married women age 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, 2011
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 6980 |
| References: | Institut National de la Statistique (INS) et ICF. International. 2012. Enquête Démographique et de Santé et à Indicateurs Multiples du Cameroun 2011. Calverton, Maryland, USA : INS et ICF International. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2009
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 704 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Engle-Stone R, Nankap, M Ndjebayi, AO, Friedman A, Tarini A, Brown KH, Kaiser L. 2018. Prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity among Cameroonian women in a national survey and relationships with waist circumference and inflammation in Yaoundé and Douala. Maternal and child nutrition. 14(4) doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12648 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2004
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 4491 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Institute of Statistics - INS/Cameroon and ORC Macro. 2005. Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey 2004. Calverton, Maryland, USA: INS/Cameroun and ORC Macro. |
| 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, 2003
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 9454 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Kamadjeu RM, Edwards R, Atanga JS, Kiawi EC, Unwin N and Mbanya JC. (2006). Anthropometry measures and prevalence of obesity in the urban adult population of Cameroon: an update from the Cameroon Burden of Diabetes Baseline Survey. BMC Public Health, 6: 288 - 395. |
| Notes: | 4 urban districts = Yaoundé, Douala, Garoua and Bamenda |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 1998
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 1658 |
| References: | SCN (2004). 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation. Nutrition for Improved Development Outcomes. Appendix 11 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 3-13 |
| Sample size: | 1343 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Choukem S-P, Kamdeu-Chedeu J, Leary SD, et al. Overweight and obesity in children aged 3–13 years in urban Cameroon: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and association with socio-economic status. BMC obesity. 2017;4:7. doi:10.1186/s40608-017-0146-4. |
| Notes: | Urban only with a focus on socioeconomic groups, see paper for survey design |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Girls, 2011
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-19 |
| Sample size: | 1413 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Benedict, Rukundo K., Allison Schmale, and Sorrel Namaste. 2018. Adolescent Nutrition 2000-2017: DHS Data on Adolescents Age 15-19. DHS Comparative Report No. 47. Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF. Institut National de la Statistique (INS) et ICF. International. 2012. Enquête Démographique et de Santé et à Indicateurs Multiples du Cameroun 2011. Calverton, Maryland, USA : INS et ICF International. |
| Definitions: | BMI for age: between +1 SD and +2 SD is overweight and greater than +2 SD is obesity |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
0-5 years, 2018-2019
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 5268 |
| References: | DHS: Enquête Démographique et de Santé du Cameroun 2018. Yaoundé, Cameroun et Rockville, Maryland, USA : INS et ICF. 2020 |
| 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, 2014
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 6737 |
| References: | MICS: Enquête par grappes à indicateurs multiples (MICS5), 2014, Rapport Final. Yaoundé, Cameroun, Institut National de la Statistique |
| 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, 2011
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 6033 |
| References: | DHS: Enquête démographique et de santé et à indicateurs multiples du Cameroun 2011. Demographic and Health Surveys and MICS. Calverton, Maryland, USA : INS et ICF International, 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: | 5933 |
| References: | MICS: Cameroun: Suivi de la situation des enfants et des femmes. Enquête par grappee à indicateurs multiples 2006. Rapport principal. Yaoundé, Cameroun: Institut National de la Statistique et UNICEF, 2008 |
| 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, 2004
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 3874 |
| References: | DHS: Enquête démographique et de santé du Cameroun 2004. Demographic and Health Surveys. Calverton, Maryland, USA: INS et ORC Macro, 2004 |
| 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, 1998
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 1977 |
| References: | DHS: Enquete démographique et de santé, Cameroun 1998. Demographic and Health Surveys. Calverton, Maryland, U.S.A. : Bureau Central des Recensements et des Études de Population et Macro International Inc., 1999 |
| 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, 1991
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2810 |
| References: | DHS: Enquête démographique et de santé Cameroun, 1991. Demographic and Health Surveys. Yaoundé, République du Cameroun, 1992 |
| 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 |
% Adults living with obesity in Cameroon 1998-2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: SCN (2004). 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation. Nutrition for Improved Development Outcomes. Appendix 11 2004: National Institute of Statistics - INS/Cameroon and ORC Macro. 2005. Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey 2004. Calverton, Maryland, USA: INS/Cameroun and ORC Macro. 2011: Institut National de la Statistique (INS) et ICF. International. 2012. Enquête Démographique et de Santé et à Indicateurs Multiples du Cameroun 2011. Calverton, Maryland, USA : INS et ICF International. 2018: Deomgraphic Health Survey, Cameroon, 2018 (in french) |
| Notes: | Adults aged 15-49 |
| 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 in Cameroon 1998-2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: SCN (2004). 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation. Nutrition for Improved Development Outcomes. Appendix 11 2004: National Institute of Statistics - INS/Cameroon and ORC Macro. 2005. Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey 2004. Calverton, Maryland, USA: INS/Cameroun and ORC Macro. 2011: Institut National de la Statistique (INS) et ICF. International. 2012. Enquête Démographique et de Santé et à Indicateurs Multiples du Cameroun 2011. Calverton, Maryland, USA : INS et ICF International. 2018: Deomgraphic Health Survey, Cameroon, 2018 (in french) |
| Notes: | Adults aged 15-49 |
| 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. | |
