Tunisia
Lower-middle income
- Overview
- Obesity prevalence
- Contextual factors
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National obesity risk *7/10This 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 *7/11This 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
Comorbidities
Economic impact
Policies
Contextual factors
Obesity prevalence
Adults, 2005
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 35-70 |
| Sample size: | 5343 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | El Ati J, Traissac P, Delpeuch F, Aounallah-Skhiri H, Béji C, et al. (2012) Gender Obesity Inequities Are Huge but Differ Greatly According to Environment and Socio-Economics in a North African Setting: A National Cross-Sectional Study in Tunisia. PLoS ONE 7(10): e48153. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048153 |
| Notes: | Older population. Starts at 35 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1997
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 20-60 |
| Sample size: | 2760 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Mokhtar N, Elati J, Chabir R, Bour A, Elkari K, Schlossman NP, Caballero B and Aguenaou H. (2001). Diet, culture and obesity in Northern Africa. Journal of Nutrition. 131: 887S - 892S. |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Adults, 1990
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 18+ |
| Sample size: | 8611 |
| References: | Shetty P, James WPT. BMI distribution in developed and developing countries. FAO Food and Nutrition Papers. 1994 No. 56 |
| Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m². | |
Children, 2013-2014
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-18 |
| Sample size: | 418 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Musaiger A.O et al. 2016. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents in eight Arab countries: comparison between two international standards (ARABEAT-2). Nutr Hosp. 33(5). pp. 1062-1065. |
| Notes: | IOTF cut-offs used |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2012-2013
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 6-11 |
| Sample size: | 4647 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Ghouili H et al 2018. Body mass index reference curves for Tunisian children. Arch Pediatr. 2018 Nov;25(8):459-463. |
| Notes: | IOTF International Cut off used |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2011
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 9-12 |
| Sample size: | 1529 |
| Area covered: | Regional |
| References: | Regaieg et al 2014. [Prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity in a population of school children in urban areas Sfax, Tunisia]. Pan Afr Med J.7(57). doi: 10.11604/pamj.2014.17.57.3351. |
| Notes: | Sfax, Tunisia IOTF cut-offs used. |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
Children, 2005
| Survey type: | Measured |
| Age: | 15-19 |
| Sample size: | 2872 |
| Area covered: | National |
| References: | Aounallah-Skhiri H, Romdhane HB, Traissac P et al. Nutritional status of Tunisian adolescents: associated gender,environmental and socio-economic factors Public Health Nutrition: 11(12), 1306–1317 |
| Notes: | IOTF cut off used NB numbers are only in text in paper. WHO 85th centile shown in tables in paper |
| Cutoffs: | IOTF |
0-5 years, 2018
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 3281 |
| References: | MICS: Enquête par grappes à indicateurs multiples (MICS), 2018, Rapport Final. Tunisie: le Ministère du Développement de l’Investissement et de la Coopération Internationale (MDICI) |
| 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, 2011-2012
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2529 |
| References: | MICS: Suivi de la situation des enfants et des femmes en Tunisie- Enquête par grappes à indicateurs multiples 2011-2012: Rapport Final. MICS. Tunis, Tunisie: MDCI, INS, UNICEF, 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 |
0-5 years, 2006
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2842 |
| References: | MICS: Enquête sur la santé et le bien être de la mère et l'enfant: MICS 3. Tunis, Tunisia, 2008 |
| 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, 1996-1997
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 891 |
| References: | NNS: Enquête nationale 1996-1997. Evaluation de l'état nutritionnel de la population Tunisienne: Rapport national. Tunis, Tunisia: Sotepa Grafic, 1998 |
| 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, 1988
| Age: | 0-5 |
| Sample size: | 2026 |
| References: | DHS: Enquête démographique et de santé en Tunisie 1988. Demographic and Health Surveys. Office National de la Famille et de la Population. Tunis, Tunisie, 1989 |
| 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 |
