Denmark
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *5.5/10This 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 *7/11This 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, 2017
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 16+ |
| Sample size: | 171,126 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Sundhedsstyrelsen 2017. DANSKERNES SUNDHED DEN NATIONALE SUNDHEDSPROFIL 2017. Available from: https://www.sst.dk/-/media/Udgivelser/2018/Den-Nationale-Sundhedsprofil-2017.ashx?la=da&hash=421C482AEDC718D3B4846FC5E2B0EED2725AF517. Last accessed: 04.05.21. |
| Notes: | NB. Combined adult 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 19.05.21) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 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, 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, 1992
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 30-60 |
| Sample size: | 1624 |
| References: | Heitman BL. 10 Year trends in overweight and obesity among Danish men and women aged 30-60 years. International Journal of Obesiy (2000);24:1347-1352 |
| Notes: | Note: 2017 data is available however it is self-report - available from: https://www.sst.dk/da/udgivelser/2018/~/media/73EADC242CDB46BD8ABF9DE895A6132C.ashx [Accessed 23rd January 2019]. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1982
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 30-60 |
| Sample size: | 3784 |
| References: | Heitman BL. 10 Year trends in overweight and obesity among Danish men and women aged 30-60 years. International Journal of Obesiy (2000);24:1347-1352 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2021-2022
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13 |
| References: | Rakic JG, Hamrik Z, Dzielska A, Felder-Puig R, Oja L, Bakalár P et al. A focus on adolescent physical activity, eating behaviours, weight status and body image in Europe, central Asia and Canada. Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) international report from the 2021/2022 survey. Volume 4. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2024. 'Any translation was not created by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO is not responsible for the content or accuracy of this translation. The original English edition shall be the binding and authentic edition' |
| Notes: | HBSC aims to survey approximately 1500 pupils per age group in each country or region (totaling around 4500) |
| Cutoffs: | +2SD |
Children, 2018-2020
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 7 |
| Sample size: | 1841 |
| 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: | 1882 |
| 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, 2011-2012
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-8 |
| Sample size: | 2760 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Temarapport om børn indskolingsundersøgt i skoleåret 2011-2012. Vægtstatus i første leveår og overvægt i indskolingsalderen Databasen Børns Sundhed 2013. Available at: https://www.sdu.dk/sif/-/media/images/sif/projekter/projekter_dokumenter/databasen_boerns_sundhed/databasen_boerns_sundhed_vaegtstatus_i_foerste_leveaar_og_overvaegt_i_indskolingsalderen.pdf. Last accessed: 29/04/21. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2007-2009
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 14-16 |
| Sample size: | 7541 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Krue, S. and Coolidge, J. (2010), The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Danish school children. Obesity Reviews, 11: 489–491. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2010.00732.x |
| Notes: | 14 Regions included |
| Definitions: | 90th & 97th Centile Cut Off |
| Cutoffs: | Other |
Children, 1996-1997
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-16 |
| Sample size: | 11211 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Nielson A. (2000). National Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen. Personnal Communication data re-analyzed. Denmark |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
% 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: | 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. | |
