Namibia
Upper-middle income
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *7.5/10This 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 *6/11This 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
Adults, 2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 7497 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | The Nambia Ministry of Health and Social Services - MoHSS - and ICF International. 2014. The Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 2013. Windhoek, Namibia: MoHSS/Namibia and ICF International. |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. 3922 females, 3575 males 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 19.10.20)' |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2006-2007
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 8803 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministry of Health and Social Services - MoHSS/Namibia and Macro International. 2008. Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 2006-07. Windhoek, Namibia: MoHSS/Namibia and Macro International. |
| 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. | |
Women, 1992
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 2653 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Katjiuanjo, Puumue, Stephen Titus, Maazuu Zauana, and J. Ties Boerma. 1993. Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 1992. Windhoek, Namibia and Columbia, Maryland, USA: Ministry of Health and Social Services - MoHSS/Nambia and Macro International. https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR44/FR44.pdf (last accessed 04.11.21) |
| Notes: | Demographic Health Survey data includes ever married women aged 15-49 years only and may include males aged 15-59. NB. Overweight cut off 26-28.9 kg/m² , Obesity cut off 29 ≥ kg/m² |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-19 |
| Sample size: | 1325 |
| 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. The Nambia Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) and ICF International. 2014. The Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 2013. Windhoek, Namibia, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: MoHSS and ICF |
| Notes: | 636 girls and 689 boys |
| Definitions: | BMI for age: between +1 SD and +2 SD is overweight and greater than +2 SD is obesity |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 2013
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-17 |
| Sample size: | 4531 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2013_Namibia_Fact_Sheet.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 24.11.20) |
| Notes: | WHO cutoffs. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
0-5 years, 2013
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2598 |
| References: | DHS: The Namibia demographic and health survey 2013. Demographic and Health Surveys. Windhoek, Namibia, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: MoHSS and ICF International, 2014 |
| 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, 2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2287 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | The Nambia Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) and ICF International. 2014. The Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 2013. Windhoek, Namibia, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: MoHSS and ICF International. https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/fr298/fr298.pdf (Accessed 24.06.21) |
| Notes: | Infants. |
| Definitions: | Weight for height. Overweight = >2SD |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
0-5 years, 2006-2007
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 5065 |
| References: | DHS: Namibia demographic and health survey 2006-07. Demographic and Health Surveys. Windhoek, Namibia and Calverton, Maryland, USA: MoHSS and Macro International Inc., 2008 |
| 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, 2000
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 4250 |
| References: | DHS: Namibia demographic and health survey 2000 (Demographic and Health Surveys). Windhoek, Namibia: MOHSS, 2003 |
| 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, 1992
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2525 |
| References: | DHS: Namibia demographic and health survey 1992. Demographic and Health Surveys. Windhoek, Republic of Namibia, 1993 |
| 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 |
Namibia obesity trend 1992 2013
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1992: Katjiuanjo, Puumue, Stephen Titus, Maazuu Zauana, and J. Ties Boerma. 1993. Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 1992. Windhoek, Namibia and Columbia, Maryland, USA: Ministry of Health and Social Services - MoHSS/Nambia and Macro International. https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR44/FR44.pdf (last accessed 04.11.21) 2006: Ministry of Health and Social Services - MoHSS/Namibia and Macro International. 2008. Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 2006-07. Windhoek, Namibia: MoHSS/Namibia and Macro International. 2013: The Nambia Ministry of Health and Social Services - MoHSS - and ICF International. 2014. The Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 2013. Windhoek, Namibia: MoHSS/Namibia and ICF International. |
| 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 overweight obesity 1992 2013
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1992: Katjiuanjo, Puumue, Stephen Titus, Maazuu Zauana, and J. Ties Boerma. 1993. Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 1992. Windhoek, Namibia and Columbia, Maryland, USA: Ministry of Health and Social Services - MoHSS/Nambia and Macro International. https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR44/FR44.pdf (last accessed 04.11.21) 2006: Ministry of Health and Social Services - MoHSS/Namibia and Macro International. 2008. Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 2006-07. Windhoek, Namibia: MoHSS/Namibia and Macro International. 2013: The Nambia Ministry of Health and Social Services - MoHSS - and ICF International. 2014. The Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 2013. Windhoek, Namibia: MoHSS/Namibia and ICF International. |
| 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. | |
