Tanzania
Lower-middle income
- 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).
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
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 |
0-5 years, 2022
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 5485 |
| References: | DHS: The 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey |
| 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, 2019-2020
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 5223133 |
| References: | LSMS: Tanzania National Panel Survey 2019-2020 - Extended Panel with Sex Disaggregated Data |
| 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, 2018
| Age: | 0-5 |
| References: | SMART: Tanzania National Nutrition Survey using SMART Methodology (TNNS) 2018. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: MoHCDGEC, MoH, TFNC, NBS, OCGS, and UNICEF. |
| 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, 2015-2016
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 9816 |
| References: | DHS: Tanzania demographic and health survey 2015-16. Demographic and Health Surveys. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: NBS and ICF International, 2016 |
| 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, 2014
| Age: | 0-5 |
| References: | SMART: Tanzania national nutrition survey 2014: Final report. United Republic of Tanzania, December 2014. |
| 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: | 6565673 |
| References: | LSMS: Tanzania National Panel Survey Report (NPS) - Wave 3, 2012 - 2013. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: NBS, 2014 |
| 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, 2010-2011
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 6801409 |
| References: | LSMS: Tanzania National Panel Survey Report (NPS) - Wave 2, 2010 - 2011. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: NBS, 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, 2009-2010
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 7560 |
| References: | DHS: Tanzania demographic and health survey 2010. Demographic and Health Surveys. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: NBS and ICF Macro, 2011 |
| 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, 2008-2009
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 5728513 |
| References: | LSMS: Tanzania National Panel Survey Report (NPS) - Wave 2, 2008 - 2009. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: NBS |
| 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, 2004-2005
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 8118 |
| References: | DHS: Tanzania demographic and health survey 2004-05. Demographic and Health Surveys. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: National Bureau of Statistics and ORC Macro, 2005 |
| 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, 1999
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2617 |
| References: | DHS: Tanzania reproductive and child health survey 1999. Demographic and Health Surveys. Calverton, Maryland: National Bureau of Statistics [Tanzania] and Macro International Inc., 2000 |
| 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, 1996
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 5520 |
| References: | DHS: Tanzania demographic and health survey 1996. Demographic and Health Surveys. Calverton, Maryland: Bureau of Statistics and Macro International Inc., 1997 |
| 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, 1991-1992
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 6517 |
| References: | DHS: Tanzania demographic and health survey 1991/92. Demographic and Health Surveys. Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, 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 |
% Adults living with obesity in Tanzania 1991-2015
| 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 in Tanzania 1991-2015
| 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. | |
