Pakistan
Lower-middle income
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *6.5/10This 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 *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
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, 2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 123092 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Pakistan National Nutrition Survey 2018 https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/media/2826/file/National%20Nutrition%20S (Accessed 03.11.20) |
| Notes: | Nutritional status of non-pregnant women of reproductive age |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2017-2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 3722 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Institute of Population Studies - NIPS/Pakistan and ICF. 2019. Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. Islamabad, Pakistan, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NIPS and ICF. https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR354/FR354.pdf |
| 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. | |
Adults, 2013-2014
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-69 |
| Sample size: | 7710 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | STEPS Pakistan 2013/14 Fact Sheet (full report would not download) https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/2014_Pakistan_STEPS_FactSheet.pdf (last accessed 05.11.19) Report https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/2014_Pakistan_STEPS_Report.pdf (last accessed 19.10.20) |
| Notes: | Punjab & Siindh Province of Pakistan STEPS |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2012-2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 4170 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Institute of Population Studies - NIPS/Pakistan and ICF International. 2013. Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2012-13. Islamabad, Pakistan: NIPS/Pakistan and ICF 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. | |
Adults, 1990-1994
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 8972 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Jafar TH, Chaturvedi N and Pappas G. (2006). Prevalence of overweight and obesity and their association with hypertension and diabetes mellitus in an Indo-Asian population. CMAJ, 175(9):1071 - 1077. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2021
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 9-17 |
| Sample size: | 3551 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | The Current Prevalence of Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity Associated with Demographic Factors among Pakistan School-Aged Children and Adolescents — An Empirical Cross-Sectional Study. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11619 |
| Cutoffs: | CDC US 2000 BMI charts |
Children, 2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 10-19 |
| Sample size: | 103618 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Pakistan National Nutrition Survey 2018 https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/media/2826/file/National%20Nutrition%20S (Accessed 03.11.20) |
| Notes: | BMI-for-age cut-offs also available NB. Combined child 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 21.10.20)' |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2009-2010
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-12 |
| Sample size: | 1860 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Mushtaq MU, Gull S, Mushtaq K, Agdullah HM, Khurshid U, Shahid U, Shad MA, Akram J. Height, weight and BMI percentiles and nutritional status relative to the international growth references among Pakistani school-aged children. BMC Pediatrics 2012, 12:31 doi:10.1186/1471-2431-12-31 |
| Notes: | Region: Lahore, IOTF Cut Off (it assumed that the paper oveweight includes obesity) |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2008-2009
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-15 |
| Sample size: | 5192 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School based Student Health Survey Pakistan available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/Pakistan_2009_FS.pdf?ua=1(last accessed 14.12.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
0-5 years, 2017-2018
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 3547 |
| References: | DHS: Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. Islamabad, Pakistan, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NIPS and ICF |
| 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, 2012-2013
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 3617 |
| References: | DHS: Pakistan demographic and health survey 2012-13. Demographic and Health Surveys. Islamabad, Pakistan, and Calverton, Maryland, USA: NIPS and ICF International, 2013 |
| 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, 2011
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 23046874 |
| References: | NNS: National nutrition survey Pakistan, 2011. Islamabad, Pakistan: Aga Khan University, PMRC, Government of Pakistan and UNICEF, 2012 |
| 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, 2001
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 9584 |
| References: | NNS: National nutrition survey 2001-2002. Islamabad, Pakistan: Planning Commission, Government of Pakistan and UNICEF, 2004 |
| 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, 1990-1991
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 4366 |
| References: | DHS: Pakistan demographic and health survey 1990/91. Demographic and Health Surveys. National Institute of Population Studies. Islamabad, Pakistan, 1992 |
| 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 |
Girls, 1990-1991
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 4367 |
| References: | DHS: Pakistan demographic and health survey 1990/91. Demographic and Health Surveys. National Institute of Population Studies. Islamabad, Pakistan, 1992 |
| 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, 1990-1994
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 3240 |
| References: | Other: National health survey of Pakistan (NHSP, 1990-94): Health profile of the people of Pakistan. Islamabad, Pakistan, 1998 |
| 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, 1985-1987
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 6707 |
| References: | NNS: National nutrition survey 1985-87 report. National Institute of Health, Nutrition Division. Islamabad, Pakistan, 1988 |
| 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 overweight or obesity in Pakistan 2012-2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 2012: National Institute of Population Studies - NIPS/Pakistan and ICF International. 2013. Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2012-13. Islamabad, Pakistan: NIPS/Pakistan and ICF International. 2017: National Institute of Population Studies - NIPS/Pakistan and ICF. 2019. Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. Islamabad, Pakistan, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NIPS and ICF. https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR354/FR354.pdf 2018: Pakistan National Nutrition Survey 2018 https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/media/2826/file/National%20Nutrition%20S (Accessed 03.11.20) |
| 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. | |
Trend Adult Obesity 2012 2018
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 2012: National Institute of Population Studies - NIPS/Pakistan and ICF International. 2013. Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2012-13. Islamabad, Pakistan: NIPS/Pakistan and ICF International. 2017: National Institute of Population Studies - NIPS/Pakistan and ICF. 2019. Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. Islamabad, Pakistan, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NIPS and ICF. https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR354/FR354.pdf 2018: Pakistan National Nutrition Survey 2018 https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/media/2826/file/National%20Nutrition%20S (Accessed 03.11.20) |
| 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. | |
