• Overview
  • Obesity prevalence
  • Population breakdowns
  • Drivers
  • Comorbidities
  • Economic impact
  • Policies
  • Contextual factors
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Obesity prevalence

Adults, 2012

Survey type:Measured
Age:18-64
Sample size:2384
Area covered:National
References:WHO STEPS Qatar 2012 Fact Sheet, available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/Qatar_FactSheet_2012.pdf (last 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.

Adults, 2003

Survey type:Measured
Age:25-65
Sample size:1208
Area covered:Sub National
References:Bener A, Al-Suwaidi J, Al-Jaber K, Al-Marri S, Dagash M and Elbagi IEA. (2004). The prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors in a newly developed country. Saudi Medical Journal, 25(7): 918 - 922.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Children, 2015-2016

Survey type:Measured
Age:5-19
Sample size:168011
Area covered:National
References:M. Al-Thani, A. Al-Thani, S. Alyafei, W. Al-Chetachi, S.E. Khalifa, A. Ahmed, A. Ahmad, B. Vinodson, H. Akram, The prevalence and characteristics of overweight and obesity among students in Qatar. Public Health(2018);160:143-149 ISSN 0033-3506
Notes:WHO Cut Off
Cutoffs:WHO

Children, 2003-2004

Survey type:Measured
Age:12-17
Sample size:3923
Area covered:National
References:Bener A. (2006). Prevalence of obesity, overweight and underweight in Qatari adolescents. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 27(1): 39 - 45.
Notes:IOTF Cut off. Reference: Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: International survey. BMJ. 2000 May 6;320(7244):1240-3.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Overweight/obesity by education

Boys, 2003-2004

Survey type:Measured
Age:12-17
Sample size:3923
Area covered:Urban and Semi-urban
References:Prevalence of obesity, overweight, and underweight in Qatari adolescents. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16572718/ (last accessed 06.06.2022)
Notes:Father's education

Girls, 2003-2004

Survey type:Measured
Age:12-17
Sample size:3923
Area covered:Urban and Semi-urban
References:Prevalence of obesity, overweight, and underweight in Qatari adolescents. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16572718/ (last accessed 06.06.2022)
Notes:Father's education

Boys, 2003-2004

Survey type:Measured
Age:12-17
Sample size:3923
Area covered:Urban and Semi-urban
References:Prevalence of obesity, overweight, and underweight in Qatari adolescents. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16572718/ (last accessed 06.06.2022)
Notes:Mother's education

Girls, 2003-2004

Survey type:Measured
Age:12-17
Sample size:3923
Area covered:Urban and Semi-urban
References:Prevalence of obesity, overweight, and underweight in Qatari adolescents. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16572718/ (last accessed 06.06.2022)
Notes:Mother's education

Overweight/obesity by age

Adults, 2012

Survey type:Measured
Sample size:2384
Area covered:National
References:WHO STEPS Qatar 2012 Fact Sheet, available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/Qatar_FactSheet_2012.pdf (last 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.

Children, 2015-2016

Survey type:Measured
Sample size:168011
Area covered:National
References:M. Al-Thani, A. Al-Thani, S. Alyafei, W. Al-Chetachi, S.E. Khalifa, A. Ahmed, A. Ahmad, B. Vinodson, H. Akram, The prevalence and characteristics of overweight and obesity among students in Qatar. Public Health;160:143-149 ISSN 0033-3506
Notes:WHO Cut Off
Cutoffs:WHO

Children, 2003-2004

Survey type:Measured
Sample size:3923
Area covered:Urban and Semi-urban
References:Prevalence of obesity, overweight, and underweight in Qatari adolescents. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16572718/ (last accessed 06.06.2022)

Insufficient physical activity

Adults, 2016

References:Guthold R, Stevens GA, Riley LM, Bull FC. Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1.9 million participants. Lancet 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30357-7

Men, 2016

References:Guthold R, Stevens GA, Riley LM, Bull FC. Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1.9 million participants. Lancet 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30357-7

Women, 2016

References:Guthold R, Stevens GA, Riley LM, Bull FC. Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1.9 million participants. Lancet 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30357-7

Children, 2016

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:11-17
References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, https://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A893ADO?lang=en (last accessed 16.03.21)
Notes:% of school going adolescents not meeting WHO recommendations on Physical Activity for Health, i.e. doing less than 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.
Definitions:% Adolescents insufficiently active (age standardised estimate)

Boys, 2016

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:11-17
References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, https://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A893ADO?lang=en (last accessed 16.03.21)
Notes:% of school going adolescents not meeting WHO recommendations on Physical Activity for Health, i.e. doing less than 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.
Definitions:% Adolescents insufficiently active (age standardised estimate)

Girls, 2016

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:11-17
References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, https://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A893ADO?lang=en (last accessed 16.03.21)
Notes:% of school going adolescents not meeting WHO recommendations on Physical Activity for Health, i.e. doing less than 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.
Definitions:% Adolescents insufficiently active (age standardised estimate)

Children, 2010

Age:11-17
References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A893?lang=en
Notes:% of school going adolescents not meeting WHO recommendations on Physical Activity for Health, i.e. doing less than 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.
Definitions:% Adolescents insufficiently active (age standardised estimate)

Boys, 2010

Age:11-17
References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A893?lang=en
Notes:% of school going adolescents not meeting WHO recommendations on Physical Activity for Health, i.e. doing less than 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.
Definitions:% Adolescents insufficiently active (age standardised estimate)

Girls, 2010

Age:11-17
References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A893?lang=en
Notes:% of school going adolescents not meeting WHO recommendations on Physical Activity for Health, i.e. doing less than 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.
Definitions:% Adolescents insufficiently active (age standardised estimate)

Average daily frequency of carbonated soft drink consumption

Children, 2009-2015

Survey type:Measured
Age:12-17
References:Beal et al. (2019). Global Patterns of Adolescent Fruit, Vegetable, Carbonated Soft Drink, and Fast-food consumption: A meta-analysis of global school-based student health surveys. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572119848287 sourced from Food Systems Dashboard http://www.foodsystemsdashboard.org/food-system

Estimated per capita fruit intake

Adults, 2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:25+
References:Global Burden of Disease, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation http://ghdx.healthdata.org/
Definitions:Estimated per-capita fruit intake (g/day)

Prevalence of less than daily fruit consumption

Children, 2008-2015

Survey type:Measured
Age:12-17
References:Global School-based Student Health Surveys. Beal et al (2019). Global Patterns of Adolescent Fruit, Vegetable, Carbonated Soft Drink, and Fast-food consumption: A meta-analysis of global school-based student health surveys. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572119848287. Sourced from Food Systems Dashboard http://www.foodsystemsdashboard.org/food-system
Definitions:Prevalence of less-than-daily fruit consumption (% less-than-daily fruit consumption)

Prevalence of less than daily vegetable consumption

Children, 2008-2015

Survey type:Measured
Age:12-17
References:Beal et al. (2019). Global Patterns of Adolescent Fruit, Vegetable, Carbonated Soft Drink, and Fast-food consumption: A meta-analysis of global school-based student health surveys. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572119848287 sourced from Food Systems Dashboard http://www.foodsystemsdashboard.org/food-system
Definitions:Prevalence of less-than-daily vegetable consumption (% less-than-daily vegetable consumption)

Average weekly frequency of fast food consumption

Children, 2009-2015

Age:12-17
References:Beal et al. (2019). Global Patterns of Adolescent Fruit, Vegetable, Carbonated Soft Drink, and Fast-food consumption: A meta-analysis of global school-based student health surveys. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572119848287 sourced from Food Systems Dashboard http://www.foodsystemsdashboard.org/food-system

Estimated per-capita processed meat intake

Adults, 2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:25+
References:Global Burden of Disease, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation http://ghdx.healthdata.org/
Definitions:Estimated per-capita processed meat intake (g per day)

Estimated per capita whole grains intake

Adults, 2017

Survey type:Measured
Age:25+
References:Global Burden of Disease, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation http://ghdx.healthdata.org/
Definitions:Estimated per-capita whole grains intake (g/day)

Mental health - depression disorders

Adults, 2015

References:Prevalence data from Global Burden of Disease study 2015 (http://ghdx.healthdata.org) published in: Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders: Global Health Estimates. Geneva:World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
Definitions:% of population with depression disorders

Mental health - anxiety disorders

Adults, 2015

References:Prevalence data from Global Burden of Disease study 2015 (http://ghdx.healthdata.org) published in: Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders: Global Health Estimates. Geneva:World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
Definitions:% of population with anxiety disorders

% Infants exclusively breastfed 0-5 months

Children, 2010-2019

Area covered:National
References:Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) : 2012 Doha – Qatar, Ministry Of Development Planning and Statistics, 2014.
Notes:See UNICEF website for further survey information. Available at : https://data.unicef.org/resources/dataset/infant-young-child-feeding/ (last accessed 28.9.21) Citation: United Nations Children’s Fund, Division of Data, Analysis, Planning and Monitoring (2021). Global UNICEF Global Databases: Infant and Young Child Feeding: Exclusive breastfeeding, New York, September 2021.
Definitions:% exclusively breastfed 0-5 months

Oesophageal cancer

Men, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Women, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Breast cancer

Women, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Colorectal cancer

Men, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Women, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Pancreatic cancer

Men, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Women, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Gallbladder cancer

Men, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Women, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Kidney cancer

Men, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Women, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Cancer of the uterus

Women, 2020

Age:20+
Area covered:National
References:Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2020). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed 10.01.2291
Definitions:Age-standardized indicence rates per 100 000

Raised blood pressure

Adults, 2015

References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A875?lang=en
Definitions:Age Standardised estimated % Raised blood pressure 2015 (SBP>=140 OR DBP>=90).

Men, 2015

References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A875?lang=en
Definitions:Age Standardised estimated % Raised blood pressure 2015 (SBP>=140 OR DBP>=90).

Women, 2015

References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A875?lang=en
Definitions:Age Standardised estimated % Raised blood pressure 2015 (SBP>=140 OR DBP>=90).

Raised cholesterol

Adults, 2008

References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A885
Definitions:% Raised total cholesterol (>= 5.0 mmol/L) (age-standardized estimate).

Men, 2008

References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A885
Definitions:% Raised total cholesterol (>= 5.0 mmol/L) (age-standardized estimate).

Women, 2008

References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A885
Definitions:% Raised total cholesterol (>= 5.0 mmol/L) (age-standardized estimate).

Raised fasting blood glucose

Men, 2014

References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A869?lang=en
Definitions:Age Standardised % raised fasting blood glucose (>= 7.0 mmol/L or on medication).

Women, 2014

References:Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation, http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A869?lang=en
Definitions:Age Standardised % raised fasting blood glucose (>= 7.0 mmol/L or on medication).

Diabetes prevalence

Adults, 2021

Age:20-79
Area covered:National
References:Reproduced with kind permission International Diabetes Federation.  IDF Diabetes Atlas, 10th edn. Brussels, Belgium:International Diabetes Federation, 2021. http://www.diabetesatlas.org
Definitions:Age-adjusted comparative prevalence of diabetes, %

Adults, 2019

Age:20-79
References:Reproduced with kind permission International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 9th edn. Brussels,Belgium: 2019. Available at: https://www.diabetesatlas.org
Definitions:Diabetes age-adjusted comparative prevalence (%).

Adults, 2017

References:Reproduced with kind permission of IDF, International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 8th edition. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation, 2017. http://www.diabetesatlas.org
Definitions:Diabetes age-adjusted comparative prevalence (%).

Economic impact of overweight and obesity

Country comparisons

You can choose to compare this country’s data with the data for up to four other countries.

Policies, Interventions and Actions

National Clinical Guideline: Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery in Adult

Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery in Adults

Categories:Evidence of Management/treatment guidelines
Year(s):2021-2023
Target age group:Adults
Organisation:Ministry of Public Health
Find out more:www.moph.gov.qa
Linked document:Download linked document
References:https://www.moph.gov.qa/english/OurServices/eservices/Pages/Clinical-Guidelines.aspx#B

Qatar National Physical Activity Guidelines

Qatar National Physical Activity Guidelines

Categories:Evidence of Physical Activity Guidelines/Policy
Year(s):2021 (ongoing)
Target age group:Adults and children
Organisation:Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital
Linked document:Download linked document

National Clinical Guideline: The Management of Obesity in Adults

The purpose of this guideline is to define the appropriate diagnosis and management of obesity in adults. The objective is to guide the appropriate investigation, prescribing and referral of patients presenting to provider organisations in Qatar. It is intended that the guideline will be used primarily by healthcare professionals in primary care and outpatient settings.

Categories:Evidence of Management/treatment guidelines
Year(s):2020-2022
Target age group:Adults
Organisation:Ministry of Public Health Qatar
Linked document:Download linked document
References:Ministry of Public Health Qatar. National Clinical Guideline: The Management of Obesity in Adults (2019).

National Clinical Guideline: The Management of Obesity in Children

The purpose of this guideline is to define the appropriate prevention, diagnosis and management of obesity in children. The objective is to guide the appropriate prevention, investigation, treatment and referral of patients presenting to provider organisations in Qatar. It is intended that the guideline will be used primarily by healthcare professionals in primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care.

Categories:Evidence of Management/treatment guidelines
Year(s):2020-2022
Target age group:Children
Organisation:Ministry of Public Health
Linked document:Download linked document
References:Ministry of Public Health Qatar. National Clinical Guideline: The Management of Obesity in Children (2019).

National Health Strategy 2018-2022

Aims to create a mentally and physically healthy population.

Categories:Evidence of NCD strategy
Evidence of Nutritional or Health Strategy/ Guidelines/Policy/Action plan
Year(s):2018-2022
Target age group:Adults and children
Organisation:State of Qatar Ministry of Public Health
Find out more:www.moph.gov.qa
Linked document:Download linked document
References:State of Qatar Ministry of Public Health. National Health Strategy 2018-2022. Available from: https://www.moph.gov.qa/Style%20Library/MOPH/Files/strategies/National%20Health%20Strategy%202018%20-%202022/NHS%20EN.pdf. [Accessed 17 January 2019].

Qatar Excise Tax - soft & energy drink

Carbonated drinks (non-flavoured aerated water excluded) 50% tax rateEnergy drinks 100% tax rate

Categories:Taxation/Subsidies on Food or Beverages or law relating to public health
Year(s):2018 (ongoing)
Target age group:Adults and children
Organisation:State of Qatar, General tax authority
Find out more:gta.gov.qa

Food and Beverage Guidelines for Healthcare Facilities

Restrictions on foods sold in café's and vending machines in healthcare facilities

Categories:Evidence of Nutritional or Health Strategy/ Guidelines/Policy/Action plan
Year(s):2017 (ongoing)
Organisation:Healthcare Facilities Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Aspetar hospital, and Sidra Medical and Research Center
Find out more:thepeninsulaqatar.com
References:Link currently unavailable, link to news article available

NCD Country Profiles 2018 (Obesity Targets)

The profiles also provide data on the key metabolic risk factors, namely raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose and obesity and National Targets on Obesity (as of 2017)

Categories:Evidence of Obesity Target
Year(s):2017 (ongoing)
Target age group:Adults and children
Organisation:World Health Organisation
References:Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2018. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

Qatar National Nutrition and Physical Activity Action Plan

The main Goal of the Action Plan is to reduce morbidity and mortality attributable to chronic non-communicable diseases through healthy nutrition and increased physical activity of the people through life cycle in the State of Qatar. The action plan developed to implement the National Health Strategy 2017 - 2022.

Categories:Evidence of Nutritional or Health Strategy/ Guidelines/Policy/Action plan
Evidence of Physical Activity Guidelines/Policy
Year(s):2017-2022
Target age group:Adults and children
Organisation:Government
Linked document:Download linked document

Qatar Public Health Strategy 2017-2022

The Qatar Public Health Strategy will operate under the overarching National Health Strategy 2017-2022, one of eight sector strategies that make up the National Development Strategy 2017-2022 for Qatar. The purpose of the Qatar‘s first Public Health Strategy is to further develop an integrated and comprehensive system that can effectively address current and future public health challenges.

Categories:Evidence of Nutritional or Health Strategy/ Guidelines/Policy/Action plan
Year(s):2017-2022
Target age group:Adults and children
Organisation:Ministry of Public Health
Linked document:Download linked document
References:Qatar Public Health Strategy 2017-2022. Ministry of Public Health, https://extranet.who.int/ncdccs/Data/QAT_B3_QPHS%202017-2022.pdf (Accessed 29.07.21)

Qatar Dietary Guidelines

Categories:Evidence of Nutritional or Health Strategy/ Guidelines/Policy/Action plan
Year(s):2015 (ongoing)
Target age group:Adults and children
Organisation:National Dietary Guidelines Task Force
Linked document:Download linked document
References:The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org/nutrition/education/food-dietary-guidelines/regions/countries/qatar/en/ (last accessed 2 March 2016)

Your Health First - Sahtak Awalan

A multi-media, multi-generational, bilingual health education campaign to improve the populations health and reduce prevalence of obesity.

Categories (partial):Evidence of Community Interventions/Campaign
Year(s):2015 (ongoing)
Target age group:Adults and children
Organisation:Ministry of Public Health
Find out more:sahtakawalan.com
Linked document:Download linked document

Active Qatar Campaign

The campaign includes a series of programmes aimed at making sport activities and healthy food habits an integral part of daily lifestyles in order to help reduce obesity and the problems associated with being overweight in Qatar. It also includes specially targeted efforts for priority groups that are particularly vulnerable to inactivity-related diseases, such as people with disabilities, women, the elderly, and people with clinical conditions.

Categories:Evidence of Physical Activity Guidelines/Policy
Year(s):2014 (ongoing)
Target age group:Adults and children
Organisation:Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC)
Find out more:www.olympic.qa

Gulf Technical Regulation: Labeling of prepackaged food stuffs

Gulf Cooperation Council countries namely adopted the standards GSO (09/2013) Amd 2016 and GSO (150- 2/2013) for labeling of pre-packaged foods and shelf life. According to this GCC-wide standard, prepackaged food product labels should be in Arabic or include an Arabic language translation of the label. Producers and retailers are also mandated to provide a list of the nutrient content of pre-packaged food products, even in the absence of a nutrition or health claim.

Categories:Labelling Regulation/Guidelines
Year(s):2013 (ongoing)
Target age group:Adults and children
Organisation:Gulf Cooperation Council
Find out more:www.gso.org.sa
Linked document:Download linked document

Responsible Food and Beverage Marketing to Children Pledge

The Responsible Food and Beverage Marketing to Children Pledge, initially adopted in the GCC in 2010, is a voluntary commitment by the signatory companies to conduct responsible food and beverage marketing to children. The pledge informs and benchmarks how food and beverage products are marketed in a responsible way to children under the age of 12 in the region. In 2016 the pledge was enhanced by applying a set of nutrition criteria to define ‘better for you options’ . The pledge was endorsed by the Advertising Business Group in 2018.

Categories:Industry/Government regulations - voluntary /pledges
Categories (partial):Evidence of Marketing Guidelines/Policy
Year(s):2010 (ongoing)
Target age group:Children
References:https://campaignme.com/global-food-beverage-companies-in-the-gcc-achieve-100-commitment-to-restrict-marketing-to-children/

GNPR 2016-17 (q7) Breastfeeeding promotion and/or counselling

WHO Global Nutrition Policy Review 2016-2017 reported the evidence of breastfeeding promotion and/or counselling (q7)

Categories:Evidence of Breastfeeding promotion or related activity
Target age group:Adults
Organisation:Ministry of Health (information provided by the GINA progam)
Find out more:extranet.who.int
References:Information provided with kind permission of WHO Global database on the Implementation of Nutrition Action (GINA): https://extranet.who.int/nutrition/gina/en

Mandatory standard for food in schools

The Department of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has banned unhealthy food sold in school canteens, including products containing high amounts of fat, sugar and salt.

Categories:Evidence of School Food Regulations
Target age group:Children
Organisation:Ministry of Education
Linked document:Download linked document
References:https://extranet.who.int/nutrition/gina/en/node/57257 (Accessed 25.01.22)

No actions could be found for the above criteria.

Contextual factors

Disclaimer: These contextual factors should be interpreted with care. Results are updated as regularly as possible and use very specific criteria. The criteria used and full definitions are available for download at the bottom of this page.

Tap on a tick to find out more about policies influencing this factor.

Labelling

Is there mandatory nutrition labelling?Present
Front-of-package labelling?Absent
Back-of-pack nutrition declaration?Present
Color coding?Absent
Warning label?Absent

Regulation and marketing

Are there fiscal policies on unhealthy products?Present
Tax on unhealthy foods?Absent
Tax on unhealthy drinks?Present
Are there fiscal policies on healthy products?Absent
Subsidy on fruits?Absent
Subsidy on vegetables?Absent
Subsidy on other healthy products?Absent
Mandatory limit or ban of trans fat (all settings)?Absent
Mandatory limit of trans fats in place (all settings)? Absent
Ban on trans-fats or phos in place (all settings)? Absent
Are there any mandatory policies/marketing restrictions on the promotion of unhealthy food/drinks to children?Absent
Mandatory restriction on broadcast media?Absent
Mandatory restriction on non-broadcast media?Absent
Voluntary policies/marketing restrictions on the promotion of unhealthy food/drinks to children?Present
Are there mandatory standards for food in schools?Present
Are there any mandatory nutrient limits in any manufactured food products?Present
Nutrition standards for public sector procurement?Absent

Political will and support

National obesity strategy or nutrition and physical activity national strategy?Present
National obesity strategy?Absent
National childhood obesity strategy?Absent
Comprehensive nutrition strategy?Present
Comprehensive physical activity strategy?Present
Evidence-based dietary guidelines and/or RDAs?Present
National target(s) on reducing obesity?Present
Guidelines/policy on obesity treatment?Present
Promotion of breastfeeding?Present

Monitoring and surveillance

Monitoring of the prevalence and incidence for the main obesity-related NCDs and risk factors?Present
Within 5 years?Absent

Governance and resource

Multi-sectoral national co-ordination mechanism for obesity or nutrition (including obesity)?Present

Key

Present
Present (voluntary)
Incoming
Absent
Unknown

Last updated September 13, 2022

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