Tonga
Upper-middle income
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Trends over time
- Population breakdowns
- Drivers
- Comorbidities
- Economic impact
- Policies
- 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 *10/11This 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
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
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Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2017
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18-69 |
| Sample size: | 3858 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Tonga STEPS Survey 2017 https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/713 (Last accessed 13.10.20) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2012
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 25-64 |
| Sample size: | 2599 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | STEPS Survey Tonga 2012 available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/2012_Tonga_STEPSReport.pdf (last accessed 04.05.2020) |
| Notes: | STEPS |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 2004
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-64 |
| Sample size: | 958 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Tonga STEPS Survey 2004 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1998-2000
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-85 |
| Sample size: | 1024 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Colaguir S, Colagiuri R, Na'ati S, Muimuiheata S, Hussain Z and Palau T. (2002). The prevalence of diabetes in the Kingdom of Tonga. Diabetes care, 25: 1378 - 1383. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2017
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-17 |
| Sample size: | 3333 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Tonga - Global School-Based Student Health Survey 2017 https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/tonga/en/ (Last accessed 20.10.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2010
| Survey type: | Self-reported |
| Age: | 13-15 |
| Sample size: | 2111 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Global School Health Student Survey Factsheet Tonga, available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/gshs/2010_GSHS_FS_Tonga.pdf?ua=1 (last accessed 14.12.20) |
| Cutoffs: | WHO |
Children, 2002-2003
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-11 |
| Sample size: | 895 |
| References: | Shoko Fukuyama a; Tsukasa Inaoka b; Yasuhiro Matsumura c; Taro Yamauchi a; Kazumi Natsuhara d; Ryosuke kimura e; Ryutaro Ohtsuka f. Anthropometry of 5-19-year-old Tongan children with special interest in the high prevalence of obesity among adolescent girls. Annals of Human Biology, Volume 32, Issue 6 November 2005 , pages 714 - 723 |
| 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 |
0-5 years, 2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 1271 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Tonga Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, Survey Findings Report. Nuku’alofa, Tonga: Tonga Statistics Department |
| Notes: | Infants. |
| Definitions: | Weight for height. Overweight = +2SD-+3SD. Obesity = >+3SD |
| Cutoffs: | Other |
0-5 years, 2019
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 1271 |
| References: | MICS: Tonga Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, Survey Findings Report. Nuku’alofa, Tonga: Tonga Statistics Department |
| 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
| Age: | 0-5 |
| References: | DHS-Style: Tonga demographic and health survey 2012. Noumea, New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2013. |
| 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 Tonga 1998-2017
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Colaguir S, Colagiuri R, Na'ati S, Muimuiheata S, Hussain Z and Palau T. (2002). The prevalence of diabetes in the Kingdom of Tonga. Diabetes care, 25: 1378 - 1383. 2004: Tonga STEPS Survey 2004 2012: STEPS Survey Tonga 2012 available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/2012_Tonga_STEPSReport.pdf (last accessed 04.05.2020) 2017: Tonga STEPS Survey 2017 https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/713 (Last accessed 13.10.20) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| 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. | |
Men
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Colaguir S, Colagiuri R, Na'ati S, Muimuiheata S, Hussain Z and Palau T. (2002). The prevalence of diabetes in the Kingdom of Tonga. Diabetes care, 25: 1378 - 1383. 2004: Tonga STEPS Survey 2004 2012: STEPS Survey Tonga 2012 available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/2012_Tonga_STEPSReport.pdf (last accessed 04.05.2020) 2017: Tonga STEPS Survey 2017 https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/713 (Last accessed 13.10.20) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| 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 Tonga 1998-2017
Women
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Colaguir S, Colagiuri R, Na'ati S, Muimuiheata S, Hussain Z and Palau T. (2002). The prevalence of diabetes in the Kingdom of Tonga. Diabetes care, 25: 1378 - 1383. 2004: Tonga STEPS Survey 2004 2012: STEPS Survey Tonga 2012 available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/2012_Tonga_STEPSReport.pdf (last accessed 04.05.2020) 2017: Tonga STEPS Survey 2017 https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/713 (Last accessed 13.10.20) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| 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. | |
Men
| Survey type: | Measured |
| References: | 1998: Colaguir S, Colagiuri R, Na'ati S, Muimuiheata S, Hussain Z and Palau T. (2002). The prevalence of diabetes in the Kingdom of Tonga. Diabetes care, 25: 1378 - 1383. 2004: Tonga STEPS Survey 2004 2012: STEPS Survey Tonga 2012 available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/2012_Tonga_STEPSReport.pdf (last accessed 04.05.2020) 2017: Tonga STEPS Survey 2017 https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/713 (Last accessed 13.10.20) |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
| 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 obesity in selected countries in the Asia/Oceania Region 1975-2019, selected countries
Men
| References: | 1976, 1981, 1986: Yoshiike N, Seino F, Tajima S, Arai Y, Kawano M, Furuhata T, Inoue S. Twenty-year changes in the prevalence of overweight in Japanese adults: The National Nutrition Survey 1976-95. Obesity Reviews 2002;3:183-190 1993: Solon FS. Nutrition related chronic diseases in the Philippines. Makati city, Philippines: Nutrition Center of the Philippines Report Series, vol 2, No.1, cited in Reference 53 1995, 1996: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 1998: Colaguir S, Colagiuri R, Na'ati S, Muimuiheata S, Hussain Z and Palau T. (2002). The prevalence of diabetes in the Kingdom of Tonga. Diabetes care, 25: 1378 - 1383. 2000: Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration. The burden of overweight and obesity in the Asia-Pacific region. Obesity Reviews 2007;8:191-196. 2001: SCN (2004). 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation. Nutrition for Improved Development Outcomes. Appendix 11 2002: Report of the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey. 2004. (In Chinese). Chinese Ministry of Public Health (CMPH). 2003: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/files/fnri%20files/nns/factsandfigures2003/anthropometric.pdf (last accessed June 14th 2011) 2004: Tonga STEPS Survey 2004 2005, 2013: Chang HC, Yang HC, Chang HY, et al. Morbid obesity in Taiwan: Prevalence, trends, associated social demographics, and lifestyle factors. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0169577. Published 2017 Feb 2. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169577 2006: Ministry of Health and Population - MOHP/Nepal, New ERA/Nepal, and Macro International. 2007. Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2006. Kathmandu, Nepal: MOHP/Nepal, New ERA/Nepal, and Macro International. 2007: National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, and Macro International. 2008. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007: Key Findings. Calverton, Maryland, USA: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and Macro International. 2009: Yan, S., Li, J., Li, S., Zhang, B., Du, S., Gordon-Larsen, P., Adair, L. and Popkin, B. (2012), The expanding burden of cardiometabolic risk in China: the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Obesity Reviews. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2012.01016.x 2011: National Institute of Population Research and Training - NIPORT/Bangladesh, Mitra and Associates/Bangladesh, and ICF International. 2013. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Dhaka, Bangladesh: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International. 2012: STEPS Survey Tonga 2012 available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/2012_Tonga_STEPSReport.pdf (last accessed 04.05.2020) 2014: Australian National Health Survey, 2014-15 First Results. Australian Bureau of Statistics. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4364.0.55.001Appendix22014-15?opendocument&tabname=Notes&prodno=4364.0.55.001&issue=2014-15&num=&view= (last accessed 27th September 2017) 2015: Institute for Public Health (IPH) 2015. National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015 (NHMS 2015). Vol. II: Non-Communicable Diseases, Risk Factors & Other Health Problems; 2015. 2016: Ministry of Health - MOH/Nepal, New ERA/Nepal, and ICF. 2017. Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2016. Kathmandu, Nepal: MOH/Nepal, New ERA/Nepal, and ICF. 2017: National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), and ICF. 2020. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NIPORT and ICF https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR344/FR344.pdf (last accessed 10.08.22) 2018: National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2018 published by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Available at https://www.nibiohn.go.jp/eiken/kenkounippon21/download_files/eiyouchousa/2018.pdf (last accessed 17.05.21) 2019: Institute for Public Health (IPH), National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia. 2020. National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019: Vol. I: NCDs – Non-Communicable Diseases: Risk Factors and other Health Problems 2020: Annual Update of New Zealand Health Survey 2020/2021 available at https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/annual-update-key-results-2020-21-new-zealand-health-survey Accessed 08.11.21. 2022: Australian National Health Survey 2022-2023. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/waist-circumference-and-bmi/2022#body-mass-index-bmi- (Accessed 03.01.2024) 2023: Institute for Public Health (IKU). National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023: Non-Communicable Diseases and Healthcare Demand: Technical Report; 2024. Available at https://iku.nih.gov.my/nhms-2023 (last accessed 04.02.25) |
| 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
| References: | 1976, 1981, 1986: Yoshiike N, Seino F, Tajima S, Arai Y, Kawano M, Furuhata T, Inoue S. Twenty-year changes in the prevalence of overweight in Japanese adults: The National Nutrition Survey 1976-95. Obesity Reviews 2002;3:183-190 1993: Solon FS. Nutrition related chronic diseases in the Philippines. Makati city, Philippines: Nutrition Center of the Philippines Report Series, vol 2, No.1, cited in Reference 53 1995, 1996: Martorell R, Khan LK, Hughes ML, Grummer Strawn LM. Obesity in women from developing countries. EJCN (2000) 54;247-252 1998: Colaguir S, Colagiuri R, Na'ati S, Muimuiheata S, Hussain Z and Palau T. (2002). The prevalence of diabetes in the Kingdom of Tonga. Diabetes care, 25: 1378 - 1383. 2000: Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration. The burden of overweight and obesity in the Asia-Pacific region. Obesity Reviews 2007;8:191-196. 2001: SCN (2004). 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation. Nutrition for Improved Development Outcomes. Appendix 11 2002: Report of the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey. 2004. (In Chinese). Chinese Ministry of Public Health (CMPH). 2003: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/files/fnri%20files/nns/factsandfigures2003/anthropometric.pdf (last accessed June 14th 2011) 2004: Tonga STEPS Survey 2004 2005, 2013: Chang HC, Yang HC, Chang HY, et al. Morbid obesity in Taiwan: Prevalence, trends, associated social demographics, and lifestyle factors. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0169577. Published 2017 Feb 2. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169577 2006: Ministry of Health and Population - MOHP/Nepal, New ERA/Nepal, and Macro International. 2007. Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2006. Kathmandu, Nepal: MOHP/Nepal, New ERA/Nepal, and Macro International. 2007: National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, and Macro International. 2008. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007: Key Findings. Calverton, Maryland, USA: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and Macro International. 2009: Yan, S., Li, J., Li, S., Zhang, B., Du, S., Gordon-Larsen, P., Adair, L. and Popkin, B. (2012), The expanding burden of cardiometabolic risk in China: the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Obesity Reviews. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2012.01016.x 2011: National Institute of Population Research and Training - NIPORT/Bangladesh, Mitra and Associates/Bangladesh, and ICF International. 2013. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Dhaka, Bangladesh: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International. 2012: STEPS Survey Tonga 2012 available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/2012_Tonga_STEPSReport.pdf (last accessed 04.05.2020) 2014: Australian National Health Survey, 2014-15 First Results. Australian Bureau of Statistics. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4364.0.55.001Appendix22014-15?opendocument&tabname=Notes&prodno=4364.0.55.001&issue=2014-15&num=&view= (last accessed 27th September 2017) 2015: Institute for Public Health (IPH) 2015. National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015 (NHMS 2015). Vol. II: Non-Communicable Diseases, Risk Factors & Other Health Problems; 2015. 2016: Ministry of Health - MOH/Nepal, New ERA/Nepal, and ICF. 2017. Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2016. Kathmandu, Nepal: MOH/Nepal, New ERA/Nepal, and ICF. 2017: National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), and ICF. 2020. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NIPORT and ICF https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR344/FR344.pdf (last accessed 10.08.22) 2018: National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2018 published by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Available at https://www.nibiohn.go.jp/eiken/kenkounippon21/download_files/eiyouchousa/2018.pdf (last accessed 17.05.21) 2019: Institute for Public Health (IPH), National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia. 2020. National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019: Vol. I: NCDs – Non-Communicable Diseases: Risk Factors and other Health Problems 2020: Annual Update of New Zealand Health Survey 2020/2021 available at https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/annual-update-key-results-2020-21-new-zealand-health-survey Accessed 08.11.21. 2022: Australian National Health Survey 2022-2023. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/waist-circumference-and-bmi/2022#body-mass-index-bmi- (Accessed 03.01.2024) 2023: Institute for Public Health (IKU). National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023: Non-Communicable Diseases and Healthcare Demand: Technical Report; 2024. Available at https://iku.nih.gov.my/nhms-2023 (last accessed 04.02.25) |
| 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. | |
Overweight/obesity by age
Adults, 2012
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Sample size: | 2599 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | STEPS Survey Tonga 2012 available at https://www.who.int/ncds/surveillance/steps/2012_Tonga_STEPSReport.pdf (last accessed 04.05.2020) |
| Notes: | STEPS |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Overweight/obesity by region
0-5 years, 2019
| Sample size: | 1271 |
| References: | MICS: Tonga Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, Survey Findings Report. Nuku’alofa, Tonga: Tonga Statistics Department |
| 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
| References: | DHS-Style: Tonga demographic and health survey 2012. Noumea, New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2013. |
| 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 |
Overweight/obesity by socio-economic group
0-5 years, 2019
| Sample size: | 1271 |
| References: | MICS: Tonga Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, Survey Findings Report. Nuku’alofa, Tonga: Tonga Statistics Department |
| 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
| References: | DHS-Style: Tonga demographic and health survey 2012. Noumea, New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2013. |
| 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 |
Double burden of underweight & overweight
Adults, 2022
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20+ |
| References: | NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC). Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults. Lancet 2024; published online Feb 29. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02750-2. |
| Notes: | Age Standardised estimates |
| Definitions: | Combined prevalence of BMI<18.5 kg/m² and BMI>=30 kg/m² (double burden of underweight and obesity) |
Children, 2022
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 5-19 |
| References: | NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC). Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults. Lancet 2024; published online Feb 29. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02750-2. |
| Notes: | Age standardised estimates |
| Definitions: | Combined prevalence of BMI < -2SD and BMI > 2SD (double burden of thinness and obesity) |
| Cutoffs: | BMI < -2SD and BMI > 2SD |
0-5 years, 2019-2019
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 0-5 |
| References: | UNICEF data available at https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/malnutrition/(last accessed 12.03.25) |
| Notes: | Children under 5 falling below -2 standard deviations from the median height for age and falling at or above +2 standard deviations from the median weight-for-height of the reference population |
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, 2010-2015
| 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, 2010-2015
| 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, 2010-2015
| 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, 2010-2015
| 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
0-5 years, 2007-2022
| References: | Tonga Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, Survey Findings Report. Nuku’alofa, Tonga: Tonga Statistics Department |
| Notes: | Full details are available. Original citation United Nations Children’s Fund, Division of Data, Analysis, Planning and Monitoring (2023). Global UNICEF Global Databases: Infant and Young Child Feeding: Exclusive breastfeeding, New York, October 2023. |
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, 2024
| References: | Reproduced with kind permission International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 11th edn. Brussels, Belgium:International Diabetes Federation, 2025. http://www.diabetesatlas.org |
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
Policies, Interventions and Actions
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? | Absent |
| Front-of-package labelling? | Absent |
| Back-of-pack nutrition declaration? | Absent |
| 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? | Absent |
| Are there mandatory standards for food in schools? | Absent |
| Are there any mandatory nutrient limits in any manufactured food products? | Absent |
| Nutrition standards for public sector procurement? | Absent |
Political will and support
| National obesity strategy or nutrition and physical activity national strategy? | Absent |
| National obesity strategy? | Absent |
| National childhood obesity strategy? | Absent |
| Comprehensive nutrition strategy? | Absent |
| Comprehensive physical activity strategy? | Absent |
| Evidence-based dietary guidelines and/or RDAs? | Absent |
| National target(s) on reducing obesity? | Absent |
| 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? | Present |
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
Download contextual factors as a PDF Contextual factors definitions
