Tanzania
- 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 *4.5/11This 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).
Obesity prevalence
Trends over time
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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
Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2022
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20-49 |
| Sample size: | 9608 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministry of Health (MoH) [Tanzania Mainland], Ministry of Health (MoH) [Zanzibar], National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS), and ICF. 2022. Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey 2022 Final Report. Dodoma, Tanzania, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: MoH, NBS, OCGS, and ICF. Available at https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR382/FR382.pdf (last accessed 17.04.24) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 2015-2016
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 11634 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children - MoHCDGEC/Tanzania Mainland, Ministry of Health - MoH/Zanzibar, National Bureau of Statistics - NBS/Tanzania, Office of Chief Government Statistician - OCGS/Zanzibar, and ICF. 2016. Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHS-MIS) 2015-16. Dar es Salaam/Tanzania: MoHCDGEC, MoH, NBS, OCGS, and ICF. (http://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR321-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm accessed 4th January 2017) |
| 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, 2012
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 25-64 |
| Sample size: | 5680 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | WHO STEPS Survey Tanzania 2012, available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/tanzania/en/ (last accessed 21.10.20) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2011
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 25-64 |
| Sample size: | 2520 |
| Area covered: | Regional (Zanzibar) |
| References: | 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, 2010
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 8789 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | National Bureau of Statistics - NBS/Tanzania and ICF Macro. 2011. Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2010. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: NBS/Tanzania and ICF Macro. |
| 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, 1998-1999
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 25-64 |
| Sample size: | 9313 |
| Area covered: | Subnational |
| References: | Bovet P et al. (2002). Distribution of blood pressure, body mass index and smoking habits in the urban population of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and association with socioeconomic status. University of Social and Preventive Medicine. WHO Infobase. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Women, 1991-1992
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-49 |
| Sample size: | 4597 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 |
| Notes: | The data from this paper was sourced from the Demographic Health Survey Programme https://dhsprogram.com/ Central Statistical Office and Macro International. Calverton, Maryland, USA: Central Statistical Office and Macro International |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2022
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-19 |
| Sample size: | 2863 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ministry of Health (MoH) [Tanzania Mainland], Ministry of Health (MoH) [Zanzibar], National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS), and ICF. 2022. Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey 2022 Final Report. Dodoma, Tanzania, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: MoH, NBS, OCGS, and ICF. Available at https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR382/FR382.pdf (last accessed 17.04.24) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 9-11 |
| Sample size: | 1170 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Mosha MV, Msuya SE, Kasagama E, Ayieko P, Todd J, Filteau S. Prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. PLoS One. 2021 Apr 22;16(4):e0249595. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249595. PMID: 33886578; PMCID: PMC8061999. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Girls, 2015-2016
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-19 |
| Sample size: | 2157 |
| 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. Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children - MoHCDGEC/Tanzania Mainland, Ministry of Health - MoH/Zanzibar, National Bureau of Statistics - NBS/Tanzania, Office of Chief Government Statistician - OCGS/Zanzibar, and ICF. 2016. Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHS-MIS) 2015-16. Dar es Salaam/Tanzania: MoHCDGEC, MoH, NBS, OCGS, and ICF |
| Definitions: | BMI for age: between +1 SD and +2 SD is overweight and greater than +2 SD is obesity |
| Cutoffs: | WHO 2007 |
Children, 2012
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 8-13 |
| Sample size: | 1781 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Pangani IN, Kiplamai FK, Kamau JW, Onywera VO. Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Primary School Children Aged 8-13 Years in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. Adv Prev Med. 2016;2016:1345017. doi: 10.1155/2016/1345017. Epub 2016 Jun 14. PMID: 27403343; PMCID: PMC4923524. |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
% Adults living with obesity, 1991-2016
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1991: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 2010: National Bureau of Statistics - NBS/Tanzania and ICF Macro. 2011. Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2010. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: NBS/Tanzania and ICF Macro. 2015: Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children - MoHCDGEC/Tanzania Mainland, Ministry of Health - MoH/Zanzibar, National Bureau of Statistics - NBS/Tanzania, Office of Chief Government Statistician - OCGS/Zanzibar, and ICF. 2016. Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHS-MIS) 2015-16. Dar es Salaam/Tanzania: MoHCDGEC, MoH, NBS, OCGS, and ICF. (http://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR321-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm accessed 4th January 2017) |
| 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, 1991-2016
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1991: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 2010: National Bureau of Statistics - NBS/Tanzania and ICF Macro. 2011. Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2010. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: NBS/Tanzania and ICF Macro. 2015: Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children - MoHCDGEC/Tanzania Mainland, Ministry of Health - MoH/Zanzibar, National Bureau of Statistics - NBS/Tanzania, Office of Chief Government Statistician - OCGS/Zanzibar, and ICF. 2016. Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHS-MIS) 2015-16. Dar es Salaam/Tanzania: MoHCDGEC, MoH, NBS, OCGS, and ICF. (http://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-FR321-DHS-Final-Reports.cfm accessed 4th January 2017) |
| 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. | |
