Lebanon
Lower-middle income
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *8/10This 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 *9/11This 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
Insufficient activity
Soft drink consumption
Fruit consumption
Vegetable consumption
Fast food 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.Breastfeeding
Unaffordable diet
Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Women, 2023
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 2815 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF-Lebanon, American University of Beirut, Mercy USA, World Food Programme, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and GroundWork. Integrated Micronutrient, Anthropometry and Child Development Survey 2023. Beirut, Lebanon; 2024. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2016-2017
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-69 |
| Sample size: | 1899 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | WHO STEPWISE APPROACH FOR NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASESRISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE, Lebanon, 2016-2017 https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/Lebanon_STEPS_report_2016-2017.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 16.10.19) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2009
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 25-64 |
| Sample size: | 1953 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | WHO STEPS Report 2009 Lebanon |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2009
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20+ |
| Sample size: | 2707 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Nasreddine L, Naja F, Chamieh MC et al. Trends in overweight and obesity in Lebanon: evidence from two national cross-sectional surveys (1997 and 2009). BMC Public Health 2012;12:798 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1997
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20+ |
| Sample size: | 2104 |
| References: | Sibai AM, Hwalla N, Adra N, Rahal B. Prevalence and Covariates of Obesity in Lebanon: Findings from the First Epidemiolgical Study. Obesity Research 203;11:1353-1361 |
| Notes: | The 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. | |
Girls, 2023
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 10-19 |
| Sample size: | 2128 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF-Lebanon, American University of Beirut, Mercy USA, World Food Programme, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and GroundWork. Integrated Micronutrient, Anthropometry and Child Development Survey 2023. Beirut, Lebanon; 2024. |
| Definitions: | Overweight was defined as a BMI-for-age z-score of greater than +1.0, while obesity was defined as a BMI-for-age z-score of greater than +2.0 |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2017
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-17 |
| Sample size: | 5708 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/Lebanon_2017_GSHS_FS.pdf (last accessed 13.11.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2014-2015
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-18 |
| Sample size: | 1105 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Jomaa, L., Naja, F., Kharroubi, S., & Hwalla, N. (2019). Prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among Lebanese households with children aged 4–18 years: Findings from a national cross-sectional study. Public Health Nutrition, 22(2), 202-211. doi:10.1017/S1368980018003245 |
| Notes: | Data for 4-5 year olds avialable. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2011
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-15 |
| Sample size: | 2286 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2011_GSHS_FS_Lebanon.pdf?ua=1 |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2009
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 6-19 |
| Sample size: | 939 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Nasreddine L, Naja F, Chamieh MC et al. Trends in overweight and obesity in Lebanon: evidence from two national cross-sectional surveys (1997 and 2009). BMC Public Health 2012;12:798 |
| Notes: | Note: Data for 2-5 year-olds available. Nasreddine et al 2017. Prevalence and Correlates of Preschool Overweight and Obesity Amidst the Nutrition Transition: Findings from a National Cross-Sectional Study in Lebanon. Nutrients. 9(3),. pp. 266. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2005
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-15 |
| Sample size: | 5115 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2005_Lebanon_Fact_Sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 25.11.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 1996
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-17 |
| Sample size: | 1101 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Hwalla N and Adra N. (1998). Dept of Food Technoology & Nutrition, American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Personal communication data reanalysed (Lebanon). |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
0-5 years, 2023
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 1899 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF-Lebanon, American University of Beirut, Mercy USA, World Food Programme, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and GroundWork. Integrated Micronutrient, Anthropometry and Child Development Survey 2023. Beirut, Lebanon; 2024. |
| Definitions: | Overweight is a weight-for-height z-score greater than +2.0 but less than or equal to +3.0. Obesity is defined as a weight-for-height z-score greater than +3.0. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
0-5 years, 2021
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2592 |
| References: | SMART: Lebanon National Nutrition SMART Survey |
| 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 Lebanon 1997-2016
Men
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1997: Sibai AM, Hwalla N, Adra N, Rahal B. Prevalence and Covariates of Obesity in Lebanon: Findings from the First Epidemiolgical Study. Obesity Research 203;11:1353-1361 2009: WHO STEPS Report 2009 Lebanon 2016: WHO STEPWISE APPROACH FOR NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASESRISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE, Lebanon, 2016-2017 https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/Lebanon_STEPS_report_2016-2017.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 16.10.19) |
| 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. | |
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1997: Sibai AM, Hwalla N, Adra N, Rahal B. Prevalence and Covariates of Obesity in Lebanon: Findings from the First Epidemiolgical Study. Obesity Research 203;11:1353-1361 2009: WHO STEPS Report 2009 Lebanon 2016: WHO STEPWISE APPROACH FOR NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASESRISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE, Lebanon, 2016-2017 https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/Lebanon_STEPS_report_2016-2017.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 16.10.19) |
| 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 Lebanon 1997-2016
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1997: Sibai AM, Hwalla N, Adra N, Rahal B. Prevalence and Covariates of Obesity in Lebanon: Findings from the First Epidemiolgical Study. Obesity Research 203;11:1353-1361 2009: Nasreddine L, Naja F, Chamieh MC et al. Trends in overweight and obesity in Lebanon: evidence from two national cross-sectional surveys (1997 and 2009). BMC Public Health 2012;12:798 2016: WHO STEPWISE APPROACH FOR NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASESRISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE, Lebanon, 2016-2017 https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/Lebanon_STEPS_report_2016-2017.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 16.10.19) |
| 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. | |
Men
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1997: Sibai AM, Hwalla N, Adra N, Rahal B. Prevalence and Covariates of Obesity in Lebanon: Findings from the First Epidemiolgical Study. Obesity Research 203;11:1353-1361 2009: Nasreddine L, Naja F, Chamieh MC et al. Trends in overweight and obesity in Lebanon: evidence from two national cross-sectional surveys (1997 and 2009). BMC Public Health 2012;12:798 2016: WHO STEPWISE APPROACH FOR NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASESRISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE, Lebanon, 2016-2017 https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/Lebanon_STEPS_report_2016-2017.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 16.10.19) |
| 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. | |
Trends children 2005 2017 overweight or obesity
Girls
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2005: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2005_Lebanon_Fact_Sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 25.11.20) 2011: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2011_GSHS_FS_Lebanon.pdf?ua=1 2017: Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/Lebanon_2017_GSHS_FS.pdf (last accessed 13.11.20) |
| 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. | |
Boys and girls
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2005: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2005_Lebanon_Fact_Sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 25.11.20) 2011: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2011_GSHS_FS_Lebanon.pdf?ua=1 2017: Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/Lebanon_2017_GSHS_FS.pdf (last accessed 13.11.20) |
| 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. | |
Boys
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2005: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2005_Lebanon_Fact_Sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 25.11.20) 2011: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2011_GSHS_FS_Lebanon.pdf?ua=1 2017: Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/Lebanon_2017_GSHS_FS.pdf (last accessed 13.11.20) |
| 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. | |
Trends obesity children 2005 2017
Girls
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2005: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2005_Lebanon_Fact_Sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 25.11.20) 2011: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2011_GSHS_FS_Lebanon.pdf?ua=1 2017: Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/Lebanon_2017_GSHS_FS.pdf (last accessed 13.11.20) |
| 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. | |
Boys and girls
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2005: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2005_Lebanon_Fact_Sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 25.11.20) 2011: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2011_GSHS_FS_Lebanon.pdf?ua=1 2017: Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/Lebanon_2017_GSHS_FS.pdf (last accessed 13.11.20) |
| 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. | |
Boys
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| References: | 2005: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2005_Lebanon_Fact_Sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 25.11.20) 2011: Global School-based Student Health Survey, Fact Sheet available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2011_GSHS_FS_Lebanon.pdf?ua=1 2017: Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/Lebanon_2017_GSHS_FS.pdf (last accessed 13.11.20) |
| 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 obesity in selected countries in the EMRO Region 1984-2017, selected countries
Women
| References: | 1984, 1998: Benjelloun S. Nutrition transition in Morocco. Public Health Nutrition. 2002;5(1A):135-140 1991: Al-Lawati JA, Jousilahti PJ. Prevalence and 10year secular trend of obesity in Oman. Saudi Med J 2004;25:346-351 1997: Sibai AM, Hwalla N, Adra N, Rahal B. Prevalence and Covariates of Obesity in Lebanon: Findings from the First Epidemiolgical Study. Obesity Research 203;11:1353-1361 2000: Personal Communication from Morocco Minister of Health. National Survey carried out in 2000. Details in press for Journal of Hypertension (Arpil 03) 2002: WHO Infobase, Macro international data 2007: Department of Statistics [Jordan] and Macro International. 2008. Jordan Population and Family Health Survey 2007: Key Findings. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Department of Statistics and Macro International. 2008: Rhazi K El, Nejjari C, Zidouh A et al. Prevalence of obesity and associated sociodemographic and lifestyle factors in Morocco. Public Health Nutrition 2010:14(1)160-167 2009: WHO STEPS Report 2009 Lebanon 2011: WHO EMRO Egypt STEPS Survey 2011-12 2012: Department of Statistics/Jordan and ICF International. 2013. Jordan Population and Family Health Survey 2012. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Department of Statistics/Jordan and ICF International. 2015: Ministry of Health and Population/Egypt, El-Zanaty and Associates/Egypt, and ICF International. 2015. Egypt Health Issues Survey 2015. Cairo, Egypt: Ministry of Health and Population/Egypt and ICF International. Available at http://dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR313-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm#sthash.StgV9s6X.dpuf 2016: WHO STEPWISE APPROACH FOR NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASESRISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE, Lebanon, 2016-2017 https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/Lebanon_STEPS_report_2016-2017.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 16.10.19) 2017: Executive Summary. Oman National Non-Communicable Disease & their Risk Factors Survey 2017 https://mohcsr.gov.om/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Executive-Summary_NCDsurvey2017_En.pdf (last accessed 17.10.19) |
| 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
| References: | 1984, 1998: Benjelloun S. Nutrition transition in Morocco. Public Health Nutrition. 2002;5(1A):135-140 1991: Al-Lawati JA, Jousilahti PJ. Prevalence and 10year secular trend of obesity in Oman. Saudi Med J 2004;25:346-351 1997: Sibai AM, Hwalla N, Adra N, Rahal B. Prevalence and Covariates of Obesity in Lebanon: Findings from the First Epidemiolgical Study. Obesity Research 203;11:1353-1361 2000: Personal Communication from Morocco Minister of Health. National Survey carried out in 2000. Details in press for Journal of Hypertension (Arpil 03) 2002: WHO Infobase, Macro international data 2007: Department of Statistics [Jordan] and Macro International. 2008. Jordan Population and Family Health Survey 2007: Key Findings. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Department of Statistics and Macro International. 2008: Rhazi K El, Nejjari C, Zidouh A et al. Prevalence of obesity and associated sociodemographic and lifestyle factors in Morocco. Public Health Nutrition 2010:14(1)160-167 2009: WHO STEPS Report 2009 Lebanon 2011: WHO EMRO Egypt STEPS Survey 2011-12 2012: Department of Statistics/Jordan and ICF International. 2013. Jordan Population and Family Health Survey 2012. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Department of Statistics/Jordan and ICF International. 2015: Ministry of Health and Population/Egypt, El-Zanaty and Associates/Egypt, and ICF International. 2015. Egypt Health Issues Survey 2015. Cairo, Egypt: Ministry of Health and Population/Egypt and ICF International. Available at http://dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR313-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm#sthash.StgV9s6X.dpuf 2016: WHO STEPWISE APPROACH FOR NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASESRISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE, Lebanon, 2016-2017 https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/Lebanon_STEPS_report_2016-2017.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 16.10.19) 2017: Executive Summary. Oman National Non-Communicable Disease & their Risk Factors Survey 2017 https://mohcsr.gov.om/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Executive-Summary_NCDsurvey2017_En.pdf (last accessed 17.10.19) |
| 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. | |
