South Africa
- 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 *6/11This 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).
Obesity prevalence
Trends over time
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The report card collates all the most-recent graphics for this country. If you would like to produce a custom report based on selected graphics, just tap the Add to custom PDF button below the graphics you would like to use.Population breakdowns
Drivers
Comorbidities
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Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2016
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 7767 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Department of Health (NDoH), Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and ICF. 2019. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016. Pretoria, South Africa, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NDoH, Stats SA, SAMRC, and ICF. |
| Notes: | 3105 Men 4662 Women |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2012
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 7267 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | NHANES South Africa http://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/research-outputs/view/6493 |
| 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: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 7756 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Department of Health, Medical Research Council, ORC Macro. 2007. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2003. Pretoria, South Africa: Department of Health/South Africa. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1998
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15+ |
| Sample size: | 13585 |
| References: | Department of Health/South Africa and Macro International. 2002. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 1998. Pretoria, South Africa: Department of Health/South Africa. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2012
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 2-14 |
| Sample size: | 4278 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | NHANES South Africa http://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/research-outputs/view/6493 |
| 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 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 20.11.20) |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2001-2004
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 6-13 |
| Sample size: | 10283 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Armstrong MEG, Lambert MI, Sharwood KA & Lambert EV. 2006. Obesity and overweight in South African primany school children - the Health of the Nation Study. South African Medical Journal, 96: 439 - 444. |
| 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 |
% Adults living with obesity, 1998-2016
Men
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Department of Health/South Africa and Macro International. 2002. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 1998. Pretoria, South Africa: Department of Health/South Africa. 2003: Department of Health, Medical Research Council, ORC Macro. 2007. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2003. Pretoria, South Africa: Department of Health/South Africa. 2012: NHANES South Africa http://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/research-outputs/view/6493 2016: National Department of Health (NDoH), Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and ICF. 2019. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016. Pretoria, South Africa, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NDoH, Stats SA, SAMRC, and ICF. |
| 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. | |
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Department of Health/South Africa and Macro International. 2002. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 1998. Pretoria, South Africa: Department of Health/South Africa. 2003: Department of Health, Medical Research Council, ORC Macro. 2007. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2003. Pretoria, South Africa: Department of Health/South Africa. 2012: NHANES South Africa http://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/research-outputs/view/6493 2016: National Department of Health (NDoH), Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and ICF. 2019. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016. Pretoria, South Africa, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NDoH, Stats SA, SAMRC, and ICF. |
| 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. | |
% Adults living with overweight or obesity, 1998-2016
Men
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Department of Health/South Africa and Macro International. 2002. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 1998. Pretoria, South Africa: Department of Health/South Africa. 2003: Department of Health, Medical Research Council, ORC Macro. 2007. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2003. Pretoria, South Africa: Department of Health/South Africa. 2012: NHANES South Africa http://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/research-outputs/view/6493 2016: National Department of Health (NDoH), Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and ICF. 2019. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016. Pretoria, South Africa, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NDoH, Stats SA, SAMRC, and ICF. |
| 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. | |
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Department of Health/South Africa and Macro International. 2002. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 1998. Pretoria, South Africa: Department of Health/South Africa. 2003: Department of Health, Medical Research Council, ORC Macro. 2007. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2003. Pretoria, South Africa: Department of Health/South Africa. 2012: NHANES South Africa http://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/research-outputs/view/6493 2016: National Department of Health (NDoH), Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and ICF. 2019. South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016. Pretoria, South Africa, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NDoH, Stats SA, SAMRC, and ICF. |
| 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. | |
