• 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 *3/11This 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).
* Based on estimated data. For more information see Publications

Obesity prevalence

Trends over time

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Population breakdowns

By education

By age

By region

By socio-economic group

Drivers

Insufficient activity

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.

Breastfeeding

Comorbidities

Oesophageal cancer

Breast cancer

Colorectal cancer

Pancreatic cancer

Gallbladder cancer

Kidney cancer

Cancer of the uterus

Raised blood pressure

Raised cholesterol

Raised fasting blood glucose

Diabetes prevalence

Economic impact

Economic impact

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Policies

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Contextual factors

Contextual factors

Obesity prevalence

Adults, 2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:18-69
Sample size:4206
Area covered:National
References:Malawi National STEPwise Survey for Non-Communicable Diseases Risk Factors 2017 Report. https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/629/download/5770 (Accessed 12.10.21)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 2016

Survey type:Measured
Age:18+
Sample size:28891
Area covered:Regional
References:Price AJ, Crampin AC, Amberbir A et al. Prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, and cascade of care in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional, population-based study in rural and urban Malawi.Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018 Jan 19. pii: S2213-8587(17)30432-1. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(17)30432-1. [Epub ahead of print]
Notes:Karonga District and Lilongwe city. 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.
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Women, 2015-2016

Survey type:Measured
Age:15-49
Sample size:7180
Area covered:National
References:National Statistical Office - NSO/Malawi and ICF. 2017. Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16. Zomba, Malawi: NSO and ICF.
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.
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Women, 2010

Survey type:Measured
Age:15-49
Sample size:6684
Area covered:National
References:National Statistical Office (NSO) and ICF Macro. 2011. Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2010. Zomba, Malawi, and Calverton, Maryland, USA: NSO and ICF Macro.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Adults, 2009

Survey type:Measured
Age:25-64
Sample size:4845
Area covered:National
References:NCD STEPS 2009. Msyamboza KP, Kathyola D, Dzowela T. Anthropometric measurements and prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in adult Malawians: nationwide population based NCD STEPS survey. Pan African Medical Journal. 2013; 15:108. doi:10.11604/pamj.2013.15.108.2622 http://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/15/108/full/ accessed 26th Nov 2013
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Women, 2004

Survey type:Measured
Age:15-49
Sample size:9280
Area covered:National
References:National Statistical Office - NSO/Malawi and ORC Macro. 2005. Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2004. Calverton, Maryland: NSO/Malawi and ORC Macro.
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.
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Women, 2000

Survey type:Measured
Age:15-49
Sample size:6489
References:SCN (2004). 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation. Nutrition for Improved Development Outcomes. Appendix 11
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Women, 1992

Survey type:Measured
Age:15-49
Sample size:2323
References:Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252
Notes:The data from this paper was sourced from the Demographic Health Survey Programme https://dhsprogram.com/ Central Statistical Office and Macro International. Calverton, Maryland, USA
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².
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Girls, 2015-2016

Survey type:Measured
Age:15-19
Sample size:1294
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. National Statistical Office - NSO/Malawi and ICF. 2017. Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16. Zomba, Malawi: NSO and ICF.
Definitions:BMI for age: between +1 SD and +2 SD is overweight and greater than +2 SD is obesity
Cutoffs:WHO 2007
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Children, 2009

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:13-15
Sample size:2359
Area covered:National
References:Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/Malawi_2009_FS.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 24.11.20)
Cutoffs:WHO
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