Colombia
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *7.5/10This 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 *6.5/11This 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
Comorbidities
Economic impact
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Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-75 |
| Sample size: | 1537 |
| Area covered: | Urban |
| References: | Jimenez-Mora, Mario A et al. “Association of Overweight, Obesity and Abdominal Obesity with Socioeconomic Status and Educational Level in Colombia.” Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy vol. 13 1887-1898. 3 Jun. 2020, doi:10.2147/DMSO.S244761 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2015-2016
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-64 |
| Sample size: | 151343 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | ENSIN 2015. Available at https://www.minsalud.gov.co/ (last accessed 05.10.20) |
| Notes: | Sample size includes children |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2010
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 43723 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ojeda, Gabriel, Myriam Ordonez, and Luis Hernando Ochoa. 2011. Colombia Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud 2010. Bogotá, Colombia: Profamilia. |
| 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, 2010
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-64 |
| Sample size: | 162331 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | ENSIN 2010. Available at https://www.minsalud.gov.co/ (last accessed 05.10.20) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2005
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 38143 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ojeda, Gabriel, Myriam Ordonez, and Luis Hernando Ochoa. 2005. Colombia Salud Sexual y Reproductiva: Resultados Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud 2005. Bogotá, Colombia: Profamilia. |
| 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, 2005
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-64 |
| Sample size: | 31105 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Kasper NM, Herrán OF, Villamor E. Obesity prevalence in Colombian adults is increasing fastest in lower socio-economic status groups and urban residents: results from two nationally representative surveys. Public Health Nutrition: 17(11), 2398–2406 doi:10.1017/S1368980013003418 |
| Notes: | 18679 Females and 12426 Males |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2000
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 3070 |
| 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. | |
Women, 1995
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 3319 |
| 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
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-17 |
| Sample size: | 385 |
| Area covered: | Urban |
| References: | Jimenez-Mora, Mario A et al. “Association of Overweight, Obesity and Abdominal Obesity with Socioeconomic Status and Educational Level in Colombia.” Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy vol. 13 1887-1898. 3 Jun. 2020, doi:10.2147/DMSO.S244761 |
| Notes: | PLEASE NOTE SMALL SAMPLE SIZE Conflicting age ranges presented in paper. The Child data may be either 2-17 years of 5-17 years. It has been assumed 5-17 years, though author has been contacted to confirm. |
| Definitions: | Cut offs. 25-59 months BMI for Age Z Score >1 ≤ 3 for overweight, >3 Obesity 5-17 years BMI for Age Z Score >1 ≤ 2 for overweight, > 2 Obesity |
Children, 2010
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 13-17 |
| Sample size: | 18177 |
| References: | Rincón-Pabón, D., Urazán-Hernández, Y., & González-Santamaría, J. (2019). Association between the time spent watching television and the sociodemographic characteristics with the presence of overweight and obesity in Colombian adolescents (secondary analysis of the ENSIN 2010). PloS one, 14(5), e0216455. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216455 |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
% Adults living with obesity, 1995-2010
| 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 2000: SCN (2004). 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation. Nutrition for Improved Development Outcomes. Appendix 11 2005: Ojeda, Gabriel, Myriam Ordonez, and Luis Hernando Ochoa. 2005. Colombia Salud Sexual y Reproductiva: Resultados Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud 2005. Bogotá, Colombia: Profamilia. 2010: Ojeda, Gabriel, Myriam Ordonez, and Luis Hernando Ochoa. 2011. Colombia Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud 2010. Bogotá, Colombia: Profamilia. |
| 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, 1995-2010
| References: | 1995: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 2000: SCN (2004). 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation. Nutrition for Improved Development Outcomes. Appendix 11 2005: Ojeda, Gabriel, Myriam Ordonez, and Luis Hernando Ochoa. 2005. Colombia Salud Sexual y Reproductiva: Resultados Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud 2005. Bogotá, Colombia: Profamilia. 2010: Ojeda, Gabriel, Myriam Ordonez, and Luis Hernando Ochoa. 2011. Colombia Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud 2010. Bogotá, Colombia: Profamilia. |
| 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, 1960-2022
Men
| References: | 1960, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1991: Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kuczmarski RJ, Johnson CL. Overweight and obesity in the United States: prevalence and trends, 1960-1994. International Journal of Obesity (1998);22:39-47 1975: Monteiro CA, Conde WL, Popking BM. Is obesity replacing or adding to undernutrition? Evidence from different social classes in Brazil. 2002. Public Health Nutrition:51(1A), 105-112 1988: Berrios X, Jadue I, Zenteno J, Ross MI, Rodriguez H. Prevalencia de factores de riesgo para enfermedades cronicas. Estudio de la poblacion general de la region Metropolitana, 1986-1987. Rev. Med. Chile. 1990;118:597-604 1992, 1994, 1995: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 1997: Filozof C, Gonzales C, Sereday M, Mazza C, Braguinsky J. Obesity prevalence and trends in Latin American countries. Obesity Reviews, 2001;2:99-196 1998: Instituto Nacional de Estadística - INE/Guatemala and Macro International. 1999. Guatemala Encuesta Nacional de Salud Materno Infantil 1998-1999. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Instituto Nacional de Estadística - INE/Guatemala and Macro International. 1999: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ 2000: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informática - INEI/Perú and Macro International. 2001. Perú Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar 2000. Lima, Perú: INEI/Perú and Macro International. 2001: Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, McDowell MA, Tabak CJ, Flegal KM. Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the United States, 1999-2004. JAMA 2006;295(13):1549-1555 2002: Monteiro CA, Conde WL and Popkin BA. (2007). Income-specific trends in obesity in Brazil: 1975 - 2003. American Journal of Public Health, 97 (10): 1808 - 1812. 2003: 2003 ENS Report. Final results on the National Health Survey. Http://epi.minsal.cl/epi/html/invest/ENS/informeFinalENS.pdf. 2005: Cayemittes, Michel, Marie Florence Placide, Soumaïla Mariko, Bernard Barrère, Blaise Sévère, and Canez Alexandre. 2007. Enquête Mortalité, Morbidité et Utilisation des Services, Haïti, 2005-2006. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Institut Haïtien de l’Enfance and Macro International. 2006: Olaiz-Fernández G, Rivera-Dommarco J, Shamah-Levy T, Rojas R, Villalpando-Hernández S, Hernández-Avila M, Sepúlveda-Amor J. Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2006. Cuernavaca, México: Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 2006. (National Health and Nutrition Survey 2006). 2007: Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática - INEI/Peru and ORC Macro. 2009. Perú Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar - ENDES 2007-2008. Lima, Perú: INEI/Peru and ORC Macro. 2008: Ramirez-Zea M, Kroker-Lobos MF, Close-Fernandez R, Kanter R. The double burden of malnutrition in indigenous and nonindigenous Guatemalan populations. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Dec;100(6):1644S-51S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.083857 2009: 2nd Argentinian National Survey of Risk Factors (Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo). Results from 1-3rd survey reported in the 4th survey report: https://www.indec.gob.ar/ftp/cuadros/publicaciones/enfr_2018_resultados_definitivos.pdf 2010: Ojeda, Gabriel, Myriam Ordonez, and Luis Hernando Ochoa. 2011. Colombia Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud 2010. Bogotá, Colombia: Profamilia. 2011: Ruopeng An, “Prevalence and Trends of Adult Obesity in the US, 1999–2012”, ISRN Obesity, vol. 2014, Article ID 185132, 6 pages, 2014. doi:10.1155/2014/185132 2012: Cayemittes, Michel, Michelle Fatuma Busangu, Jean de Dieu Bizimana, Bernard Barrère, Blaise Sévère, Viviane Cayemittes and Emmanuel Charles. 2013. Enquête Mortalité, Morbidité et Utilisation des Services, Haïti, 2012. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population - MSPP/Haïti , l’Institut Haïtien de l’Enfance - IHE, and ICF International. 2013: Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática - INEI/Perú. 2014. Perú Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar - ENDES 2013. Lima, Perú: INEI/Peru. 2014: Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social - MSPAS/Guatemala, Instituto Nacional de Estadística - INE/Guatemala, Secretaría de Planificación y Programación del la Presidencia - Segeplán/Guatemala and ICF International. 2017. Encuesta Nacional de Salud Materno Infantil 2014-2015: Informe Final. Rockville, Maryland, USA: MSPAS, INE, Segeplán and ICF International. 2015: NHANES 2015/16. Analysis conducted by the World Obesity Federation, Caroline Litts, Fiona Montague & R Jackson-Leach 2017 2016: Encuesta Nacional de Salud. Chile. 2016-2017 https://www.minsal.cl/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ENS-2016-17_PRIMEROS-RESULTADOS.pdf (Last accessed 04.08.20) 2017: Pickens, C. M., Flores-Ayala, R., Addo, O. Y., Whitehead, R. D., Jr, Palmieri, M., Ramirez-Zea, M., Hong, Y., & Jefferds, M. E. (2020). Prevalence and Predictors of High Blood Pressure Among Women of Reproductive Age and Children Aged 10 to 14 Years in Guatemala. Preventing chronic disease, 17, E66. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190403 2018: 4th National Survey, Full report available at http://www.msal.gob.ar/images/stories/bes/graficos/0000001622cnt-2019-10_4ta-encuesta-nacional-factores-riesgo.pdf (last accessed 29.04.20) 2019: Bahamas STEPS Survey (Preliminary results) https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/891fac39-ad7d-4aa8-ac54-39912a1afcea/Preliminary+Factsheet+v7+%28med+resl%27n%29.pdf?MOD=AJPERES (Accessed 03.11.2020) 2020: INEI (2021) Peru Encuesta Demografica y de Salud Familiar Endes 2020. Available at https://www.inei.gob.pe/media/MenuRecursivo/publicaciones_digitales/Est/Lib1795/ (last accessed 28.03.23) 2021: Shamah-Levy T, Romero-Martínez M, Barrientos-Gutiérrez T, Cuevas-Nasu L, Bautista-Arredondo S, Colchero MA, Gaona-Pineda EB, Lazcano-Ponce E,Martínez-Barnetche J, Alpuche-Arana C, Rivera-Dommarco J. Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2021 sobre Covid-19. Resultados nacionales. Cuernavaca, México: Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 2022. https://ensanut.insp.mx/encuestas/ensanutcontinua2021/informes.php (Accessed 03.01.2023) 2022: Perú: Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar 2022 - Nacional y Departamental. Available at https://www.gob.pe/institucion/inei/informes-publicaciones/4233597-peru-encuesta-demografica-y-de-salud-familiar-endes-2022 |
| 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: | 1960, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1991: Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kuczmarski RJ, Johnson CL. Overweight and obesity in the United States: prevalence and trends, 1960-1994. International Journal of Obesity (1998);22:39-47 1975: Monteiro CA, Conde WL, Popking BM. Is obesity replacing or adding to undernutrition? Evidence from different social classes in Brazil. 2002. Public Health Nutrition:51(1A), 105-112 1988: Berrios X, Jadue I, Zenteno J, Ross MI, Rodriguez H. Prevalencia de factores de riesgo para enfermedades cronicas. Estudio de la poblacion general de la region Metropolitana, 1986-1987. Rev. Med. Chile. 1990;118:597-604 1992, 1994, 1995: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 1997: Filozof C, Gonzales C, Sereday M, Mazza C, Braguinsky J. Obesity prevalence and trends in Latin American countries. Obesity Reviews, 2001;2:99-196 1998: Instituto Nacional de Estadística - INE/Guatemala and Macro International. 1999. Guatemala Encuesta Nacional de Salud Materno Infantil 1998-1999. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Instituto Nacional de Estadística - INE/Guatemala and Macro International. 1999: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ 2000: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informática - INEI/Perú and Macro International. 2001. Perú Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar 2000. Lima, Perú: INEI/Perú and Macro International. 2001: Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, McDowell MA, Tabak CJ, Flegal KM. Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the United States, 1999-2004. JAMA 2006;295(13):1549-1555 2002: Monteiro CA, Conde WL and Popkin BA. (2007). Income-specific trends in obesity in Brazil: 1975 - 2003. American Journal of Public Health, 97 (10): 1808 - 1812. 2003: 2003 ENS Report. Final results on the National Health Survey. Http://epi.minsal.cl/epi/html/invest/ENS/informeFinalENS.pdf. 2005: Cayemittes, Michel, Marie Florence Placide, Soumaïla Mariko, Bernard Barrère, Blaise Sévère, and Canez Alexandre. 2007. Enquête Mortalité, Morbidité et Utilisation des Services, Haïti, 2005-2006. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Institut Haïtien de l’Enfance and Macro International. 2006: Olaiz-Fernández G, Rivera-Dommarco J, Shamah-Levy T, Rojas R, Villalpando-Hernández S, Hernández-Avila M, Sepúlveda-Amor J. Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2006. Cuernavaca, México: Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 2006. (National Health and Nutrition Survey 2006). 2007: Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática - INEI/Peru and ORC Macro. 2009. Perú Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar - ENDES 2007-2008. Lima, Perú: INEI/Peru and ORC Macro. 2008: Ramirez-Zea M, Kroker-Lobos MF, Close-Fernandez R, Kanter R. The double burden of malnutrition in indigenous and nonindigenous Guatemalan populations. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Dec;100(6):1644S-51S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.083857 2009: 2nd Argentinian National Survey of Risk Factors (Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo). Results from 1-3rd survey reported in the 4th survey report: https://www.indec.gob.ar/ftp/cuadros/publicaciones/enfr_2018_resultados_definitivos.pdf 2010: Ojeda, Gabriel, Myriam Ordonez, and Luis Hernando Ochoa. 2011. Colombia Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud 2010. Bogotá, Colombia: Profamilia. 2011: Ruopeng An, “Prevalence and Trends of Adult Obesity in the US, 1999–2012”, ISRN Obesity, vol. 2014, Article ID 185132, 6 pages, 2014. doi:10.1155/2014/185132 2012: Cayemittes, Michel, Michelle Fatuma Busangu, Jean de Dieu Bizimana, Bernard Barrère, Blaise Sévère, Viviane Cayemittes and Emmanuel Charles. 2013. Enquête Mortalité, Morbidité et Utilisation des Services, Haïti, 2012. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population - MSPP/Haïti , l’Institut Haïtien de l’Enfance - IHE, and ICF International. 2013: Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática - INEI/Perú. 2014. Perú Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar - ENDES 2013. Lima, Perú: INEI/Peru. 2014: Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social - MSPAS/Guatemala, Instituto Nacional de Estadística - INE/Guatemala, Secretaría de Planificación y Programación del la Presidencia - Segeplán/Guatemala and ICF International. 2017. Encuesta Nacional de Salud Materno Infantil 2014-2015: Informe Final. Rockville, Maryland, USA: MSPAS, INE, Segeplán and ICF International. 2015: NHANES 2015/16. Analysis conducted by the World Obesity Federation, Caroline Litts, Fiona Montague & R Jackson-Leach 2017 2016: Encuesta Nacional de Salud. Chile. 2016-2017 https://www.minsal.cl/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ENS-2016-17_PRIMEROS-RESULTADOS.pdf (Last accessed 04.08.20) 2017: Pickens, C. M., Flores-Ayala, R., Addo, O. Y., Whitehead, R. D., Jr, Palmieri, M., Ramirez-Zea, M., Hong, Y., & Jefferds, M. E. (2020). Prevalence and Predictors of High Blood Pressure Among Women of Reproductive Age and Children Aged 10 to 14 Years in Guatemala. Preventing chronic disease, 17, E66. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190403 2018: 4th National Survey, Full report available at http://www.msal.gob.ar/images/stories/bes/graficos/0000001622cnt-2019-10_4ta-encuesta-nacional-factores-riesgo.pdf (last accessed 29.04.20) 2019: Bahamas STEPS Survey (Preliminary results) https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/891fac39-ad7d-4aa8-ac54-39912a1afcea/Preliminary+Factsheet+v7+%28med+resl%27n%29.pdf?MOD=AJPERES (Accessed 03.11.2020) 2020: INEI (2021) Peru Encuesta Demografica y de Salud Familiar Endes 2020. Available at https://www.inei.gob.pe/media/MenuRecursivo/publicaciones_digitales/Est/Lib1795/ (last accessed 28.03.23) 2021: Shamah-Levy T, Romero-Martínez M, Barrientos-Gutiérrez T, Cuevas-Nasu L, Bautista-Arredondo S, Colchero MA, Gaona-Pineda EB, Lazcano-Ponce E,Martínez-Barnetche J, Alpuche-Arana C, Rivera-Dommarco J. Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2021 sobre Covid-19. Resultados nacionales. Cuernavaca, México: Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 2022. https://ensanut.insp.mx/encuestas/ensanutcontinua2021/informes.php (Accessed 03.01.2023) 2022: Perú: Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar 2022 - Nacional y Departamental. Available at https://www.gob.pe/institucion/inei/informes-publicaciones/4233597-peru-encuesta-demografica-y-de-salud-familiar-endes-2022 |
| 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. | |
