Panama
High 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 *6.5/11This 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).
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Population breakdowns
Drivers
Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Sample size: | 20118 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA). 2019. http://www.gorgas.gob.pa/SIGENSPA/Informe_general.htm (Accessed 23.01.23) |
| Notes: | Sample size is all over 15 years |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2010-2011
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Sample size: | 3507 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | McDonald A, Bradshaw RA, Fontes F et al. Prevalence of obesity in Panama; some risk factors and asociated diseases. BMC Public Health (2015) 15:1075 |
| Notes: | Panama & Colon Province Age adjusted figure Considered reasonably nationally representative |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2008
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Sample size: | 15484 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Sasson, M., Lee, M., Jan, C., Fontes, F. and Motta, J., 2014. Prevalence and associated factors of obesity among Panamanian adults. 1982–2010. PLoS One, 9(3), p.e91689. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2003
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Sample size: | 14737 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Sasson, M., Lee, M., Jan, C., Fontes, F. and Motta, J., 2014. Prevalence and associated factors of obesity among Panamanian adults. 1982–2010. PLoS One, 9(3), p.e91689. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2000
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 875 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Diaz QME, De Leon P, De Arango L and Mascarin F. Estudio Multicentrico de prevalencia de obesidad en la poblacion Aseturada de la caja de la Republica de Panama 2000. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-9 |
| Sample size: | 20118 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA). 2019. http://www.gorgas.gob.pa/SIGENSPA/Informe_general.htm (Accessed 23.01.23) |
| Definitions: | Sample size is all under 15 |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 10-14 |
| Sample size: | 20118 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA). 2019. http://www.gorgas.gob.pa/SIGENSPA/Informe_general.htm (Accessed 23.01.23) |
| Notes: | Sample size is all under 15 |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-17 |
| Sample size: | 20118 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA). 2019. http://www.gorgas.gob.pa/SIGENSPA/Informe_general.htm (Accessed 23.01.23) |
| Definitions: | Sample size is all over 15 years |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2018
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-17 |
| Sample size: | 2948 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School-based Student Health Survey 2018. https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/879/download/6235 (Accessed 14.09.21) |
| Definitions: | BMI by age and sex. Overweight = >+1SD from median for BMI by age and sex. Obesity = >+2SD from median for BMI by age and sex |
| Cutoffs: | Other |
0-5 years, 2019
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 441934 |
| References: | Other: Encuesta Nacional de Salud de Panamá 2019 |
| 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, 2008
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 288853 |
| References: | LSMS: Encuesta de niveles de vida, 2008. Panama City, Republica de Panama, 2009. |
| 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, 2003
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 300046 |
| References: | LSMS: Segunda encuesta de niveles de vida - 2003. Panama City, Republica de Panama, 2006. |
| 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, 1997
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 273911 |
| References: | LSMS: Encuesta de niveles de vida. 1997 Panama living standards survey (LSMS). Ciudad de Panama, Republica de Panama, 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 |
% adult living with obesity by region
Men and women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 2003, 2008: Sasson, M., Lee, M., Jan, C., Fontes, F. and Motta, J., 2014. Prevalence and associated factors of obesity among Panamanian adults. 1982–2010. PLoS One, 9(3), p.e91689. 2019: National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA). 2019. http://www.gorgas.gob.pa/SIGENSPA/Informe_general.htm (Accessed 23.01.23) |
| 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. | |
% adult living with overweight or obesity by region
Men and women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 2003, 2008: Sasson, M., Lee, M., Jan, C., Fontes, F. and Motta, J., 2014. Prevalence and associated factors of obesity among Panamanian adults. 1982–2010. PLoS One, 9(3), p.e91689. 2019: National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA). 2019. http://www.gorgas.gob.pa/SIGENSPA/Informe_general.htm (Accessed 23.01.23) |
| 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. | |
% of adults living with overweight or obesity
Men
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 2003, 2008: Sasson, M., Lee, M., Jan, C., Fontes, F. and Motta, J., 2014. Prevalence and associated factors of obesity among Panamanian adults. 1982–2010. PLoS One, 9(3), p.e91689. 2019: National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA). 2019. http://www.gorgas.gob.pa/SIGENSPA/Informe_general.htm (Accessed 23.01.23) |
| 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: | 2003, 2008: Sasson, M., Lee, M., Jan, C., Fontes, F. and Motta, J., 2014. Prevalence and associated factors of obesity among Panamanian adults. 1982–2010. PLoS One, 9(3), p.e91689. 2019: National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA). 2019. http://www.gorgas.gob.pa/SIGENSPA/Informe_general.htm (Accessed 23.01.23) |
| 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. | |
