Lesotho
Lower-middle income
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- 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 *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).
Report cards
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Population breakdowns
Drivers
Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2023-2024
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20-49 |
| Sample size: | 4523 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministry of Health [Lesotho] and ICF. 2024. Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey 2023–24: Final Report. Maseru, Lesotho, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: Ministry of Health and ICF. |
| 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: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 5738 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministry of Health/Lesotho and ICF International. 2016. Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Maseru, Lesotho: Ministry of Health/Lesotho and ICF International https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR309/FR309.pdf (Last accessed 05.08.20) |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. 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 08.10.20)' |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2012
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 25-64 |
| Sample size: | 2310 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Lesotho STEPS Survey 2012 |
| 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 |
| Sample size: | 6891 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministry of Health and Social Welfare - MOHSW/Lesotho and ICF Macro. 2010. Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey 2009. Maseru, Lesotho: MOHSW and ICF Macro. |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. Sample size = 3682 women and 3209 men |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2014
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-19 |
| Sample size: | 1146 |
| 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. Ministry of Health/Lesotho and ICF International. 2016. Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Maseru, Lesotho: Ministry of Health/Lesotho and ICF International |
| Notes: | 577 girls and 569 boys |
| Definitions: | BMI for age: between +1 SD and +2 SD is overweight and greater than +2 SD is obesity |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
0-5 years, 2018
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 3151 |
| References: | MICS: Lesotho Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2018, Survey Findings Report. Maseru, Lesotho: Bureau of Statistics. |
| 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 |
0-5 years, 2014
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 1882 |
| References: | DHS: Lesotho demographic and health survey (2014 LDHS): Key indicators. Demographic and Health Surveys. Maseru, Lesotho: Ministry of Health and ICF International, 2015 |
| 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 |
0-5 years, 2009-2010
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2118 |
| References: | DHS: Lesotho demographic and health survey 2009. Demographic and Health Surveys. Maseru, Lesotho: MOHSW and ICF Macro, 2010 |
| 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 |
0-5 years, 2004-2005
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 1688 |
| References: | DHS: Lesotho demographic and health survey 2004. Demographic and Health Surveys. Calverton, Maryland: MOH, BOS, and ORC Macro, 2005 |
| 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 |
