Kuwait
- 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 *8.5/11This 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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Insufficient activity
Soft drink consumption
Fruit consumption
Vegetable consumption
Fast food consumption
Processed meat consumption
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Depression
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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, 2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 19+ |
| Sample size: | 1772 |
| References: | The Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System - Annual Report 2018 . Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System. Ministry of Health. https://www.moh.gov.kw/FoodNutrition/KNSSReport2018.pdf (Last accessed 24.07.20) |
| Notes: | Overweight by gender currently unavailable |
| 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: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-69 |
| Sample size: | 4391 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Kuwait STEPS Survey 2014 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2006
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20-64 |
| Sample size: | 2280 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Al-Nesf Y, Kamel M, El-Shazly MK, Makboul GM, Sadek AA, El-Sayed AM, El-Fararji A. Kuwait STEPS 2006. Kuwait Minsitry of Health, GCC, WHO 2006 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1998-2000
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 19+ |
| Sample size: | 9755 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Jackson RT, Al-Mousa Z, Al-Raqua M, Prakash P and Muhanna. (2001). Prevalence of coronary risk factors in healthy adult Kuwaitis. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 52:301 - 311 |
| Notes: | Not a true representative of the population. Sample were those whose attended the Kuwait Medical Council (KMC) or Public Authority for Social Security (PASS) for a medical check up. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-18 |
| Sample size: | 706 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Kuwaiti adolescents and the perception of body weight by parents or friends. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8726464/ (last accessed 06.06.2022) |
| Cutoffs: | International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) age- and sex-specific BMI |
Children, 2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-19 |
| Sample size: | 12298 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | The Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System - Annual Report 2018 . Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System. Ministry of Health. https://www.moh.gov.kw/FoodNutrition/KNSSReport2018.pdf (Last accessed 24.07.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2015
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-17 |
| Sample size: | 3637 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2015_GSHS_Kuwait_Fact_Sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 25.11.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2013-2014
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-18 |
| Sample size: | 434 |
| Area covered: | Subnational |
| References: | Musaiger A.O et al. 2016. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents in eight Arab countries: comparison between two international standards (ARABEAT-2). Nutr Hosp. 33(5). pp. 1062-1065. |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2012-2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 6-18 |
| Sample size: | 6574 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Elkum, N., Al-Arouj, M., Sharifi, M., Shaltout, A., and Bennakhi, A. (2016) Prevalence of childhood obesity in the state of Kuwait. Pediatric Obesity, 11: e30–e34. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12090 |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2011
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-15 |
| Sample size: | 2672 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2011_GSHS_FS_Kuwait.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 25.11.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2010-2011
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-18 |
| Sample size: | 316 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Musaiger AO, Al-Mannai M, Tayyem R, Al-Lalla O, Ali EY, Kalam F, Benhamed MM, Saghir S, Halahleh I, Djoudi Z, Chirane M.Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Adolescents in Seven Arab Countries: A Cross-Cultural Study. J Obes. 2012;2012:981390. doi: 10.1155/2012/981390. Epub 2012 Sep 18. |
| Notes: | Kuwait City |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 1999-2000
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 10-14 |
| Sample size: | 14659 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Al-Isa AN. (2004). Body mass index, overweight and obesity among Kuwaiti intermediate school adolescents aged 10 - 14 years. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 58:1273 - 1277. |
| Definitions: | This survey did not use Cole et al cut off. Reference for cut off: NCHS (1976 - 1980): Anthropometric reference data and prevalence of overweight. Vital & Health Statistics data from the National Health Survey Series 11, No. 238, DHHS Publication No(PHS)-87-1688, U.S. |
| Cutoffs: | Other |
% Adults living with obesity, 1998-2018
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Jackson RT, Al-Mousa Z, Al-Raqua M, Prakash P and Muhanna. (2001). Prevalence of coronary risk factors in healthy adult Kuwaitis. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 52:301 - 311 2006: Al-Nesf Y, Kamel M, El-Shazly MK, Makboul GM, Sadek AA, El-Sayed AM, El-Fararji A. Kuwait STEPS 2006. Kuwait Minsitry of Health, GCC, WHO 2006 2014: Kuwait STEPS Survey 2014 2018: The Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System - Annual Report 2018 . Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System. Ministry of Health. https://www.moh.gov.kw/FoodNutrition/KNSSReport2018.pdf (Last accessed 24.07.20) |
| 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. | |
Men
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Jackson RT, Al-Mousa Z, Al-Raqua M, Prakash P and Muhanna. (2001). Prevalence of coronary risk factors in healthy adult Kuwaitis. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 52:301 - 311 2006: Al-Nesf Y, Kamel M, El-Shazly MK, Makboul GM, Sadek AA, El-Sayed AM, El-Fararji A. Kuwait STEPS 2006. Kuwait Minsitry of Health, GCC, WHO 2006 2014: Kuwait STEPS Survey 2014 2018: The Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System - Annual Report 2018 . Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System. Ministry of Health. https://www.moh.gov.kw/FoodNutrition/KNSSReport2018.pdf (Last accessed 24.07.20) |
| 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, 1998-2018
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Jackson RT, Al-Mousa Z, Al-Raqua M, Prakash P and Muhanna. (2001). Prevalence of coronary risk factors in healthy adult Kuwaitis. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 52:301 - 311 2006: Al-Nesf Y, Kamel M, El-Shazly MK, Makboul GM, Sadek AA, El-Sayed AM, El-Fararji A. Kuwait STEPS 2006. Kuwait Minsitry of Health, GCC, WHO 2006 2014: Kuwait STEPS Survey 2014 2018: The Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System - Annual Report 2018 . Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System. Ministry of Health. https://www.moh.gov.kw/FoodNutrition/KNSSReport2018.pdf (Last accessed 24.07.20) |
| 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. | |
Men
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Jackson RT, Al-Mousa Z, Al-Raqua M, Prakash P and Muhanna. (2001). Prevalence of coronary risk factors in healthy adult Kuwaitis. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 52:301 - 311 2006: Al-Nesf Y, Kamel M, El-Shazly MK, Makboul GM, Sadek AA, El-Sayed AM, El-Fararji A. Kuwait STEPS 2006. Kuwait Minsitry of Health, GCC, WHO 2006 2014: Kuwait STEPS Survey 2014 2018: The Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System - Annual Report 2018 . Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System. Ministry of Health. https://www.moh.gov.kw/FoodNutrition/KNSSReport2018.pdf (Last accessed 24.07.20) |
| 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. | |
