Democratic Republic of Congo
Low income
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Contextual factors
Loading data – please wait …
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 *3.5/11This 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
Download report card
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
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2019
Age: | 19+ |
Sample size: | 1531 |
Area covered: | Regional |
References: | Muyer MTM, Botomba S, Poka N, Mpunga D, Sibongwere DK, Peñalvo JL, Sagastume D, Mapatano MA. Diabetes prevalence and risk factors, underestimated without oral glucose tolerance test, in rural Gombe-Matadi Adults, Democratic Republic of Congo, 2019. Sci Rep. 2022 Sep 12;12(1):15293. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-18658-y. PMID: 36097182; PMCID: PMC9467973. |
Notes: | Rural Gombe-Matadi Region |
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². |
Women, 2013-2014
Survey type: | Measured |
Age: | 15-49 |
Sample size: | 7982 |
Area covered: | National |
References: | Ministère du Plan et Suivi de la Mise en œuvre de la Révolution de la Modernité - MPSMRM/Congo, Ministère de la Santé Publique - MSP/Congo and ICF International. 2014. Enquête Démographique et de Santé en République Démocratique du Congo 2013-2014. Rockville, Maryland, USA: MPSMRM, MSP, 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: | 4097 |
Area covered: | National |
References: | Ministère du Plan and Macro International. 2008. Enquête Démographique et de Santé, République Démocratique du Congo 2007. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Ministère du Plan and Macro 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. |
Adults, 2005
Survey type: | Measured |
Age: | 15+ |
Sample size: | 1948 |
Area covered: | Regional |
References: | STEPS Democratic Republic of Congo (Ville-Province de Kinshasa) 2005, Fact Sheet. Available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/2005_DRC_FactSheet_EN.pdf (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. |
Girls, 2013-2014
Survey type: | Measured |
Age: | 15-19 |
Sample size: | 1553 |
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. Ministère du Plan et Suivi de la Mise en œuvre de la Révolution de la Modernité - MPSMRM/Congo, Ministère de la Santé Publique - MSP/Congo and ICF International. 2014. Enquête Démographique et de Santé en République Démocratique du Congo 2013-2014. Rockville, Maryland, USA: MPSMRM, MSP, and ICF International. |
Definitions: | BMI for age: between +1 SD and +2 SD is overweight and greater than +2 SD is obesity |
Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 2010-2013
Survey type: | Measured |
Age: | 6-17 |
Sample size: | 7541 |
Area covered: | Regional |
References: | Estimated from: Buhendwaa RU, Roelantsb M, Thomisc M and Nkiamaa CE. Nutritional status and height, weight and BMI centiles of school-aged children and adolescents of 6–18-years from Kinshasa (DRC). Annals of Human Biology 2017 Vol 44, No. 6, 554-561 |
Notes: | Urban - Kinshasa, WHO 2007 Reference Cut off +1SD Overweight, +2SD Obesity (These 6-17yrs are WO estimates see individual year data on 'by age' map for published figures) 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 |
Infants, 2017-2018
Survey type: | Measured |
Age: | 0-5 |
Sample size: | 21147 |
Area covered: | National |
References: | INS, Enquete par grappes a indicateurs mulitiples, 2017-18, rapport de resultats de l'enquete. Kinshasa, Republique Democratigue du Congo |
Notes: | Infants only |
Definitions: | 2+SD, 3+SD Overweight displayed excludes obesity |
Cutoffs: | Other |
Infants, 2017-2018
Age: | 0-5 |
Sample size: | 21147 |
References: | MICS: Enquête par grappes à indicateurs multiples, 2017-2018, rapport de résultats de l’enquête. Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo |
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 |
Infants, 2013-2014
Age: | 0-5 |
Sample size: | 9195 |
References: | DHS: Enquête démographique et de santé en République Démocratique du Congo 2013-2014. Demographic and Health Surveys. Rockville, Maryland, USA : MPSMRM, MSP et ICF International, 2014 |
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 |
Infants, 2010
Age: | 0-5 |
Sample size: | 10662 |
References: | MICS: Enquête par grappes à indicateurs multiples en République Démocratique du Congo (MICS-RDC 2010). Rapport final, mai 2011. Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo, 2011 |
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 |
Infants, 2007
Age: | 0-5 |
Sample size: | 3799 |
References: | DHS: Enquête démographique et de santé, République Démocratique du Congo 2007. Demographic and Health Surveys. Calverton, Maryland, U.S.A.: Ministère du Plan et Macro International, 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 |
Girls, 2001
Age: | 0-5 |
Sample size: | 8858 |
References: | MICS: Enquête nationale sur la situation des enfants et des femmes MICS2 / 2001. Rapport d'analyse. Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo, juillet 2002 |
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 |
Infants, 2001
Age: | 0-5 |
Sample size: | 8857 |
References: | MICS: Enquête nationale sur la situation des enfants et des femmes MICS2 / 2001. Rapport d'analyse. Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo, juillet 2002 |
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 |